Evening journal., 1899-09-06
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| BURGLARS TWO
~ 77lS

L Long" Hargreaves and l went
down to Lyncaster-on-sea to do some
reading.
The season was over, and we found
ourselves almost the only visitors in the
place-quite the only ones, in fact, at
the Park hotel Consequently we had
choice Of rooms, and il was purely acci-
dental that we chose the corner sitting
room on the second floor 'front.'" over
looking the grounds of the hotel and
also the Peoples park.
The western wall Of the hotel gardens
formed the eastern boundary of the
park, and our room was at right angles
to the wall. Immediately beneath It, on
the park side, was row of garden
seats.
One night Hargreaves and were
luxuriating in a lounge after dinner.
The room was in darkness and we were
quiet for once-enjoying a smoke and
half doing.
Presently I was reused by the sound
of voices talking outside. The window
was open end ] drew aside the curtain
and looked out.
Two men occupied the seat just below
me, on the park side Of the wall-decent
looking fellows. as far as 1 could tell
In the dusk. I looked carelessly at
them for a moment, and was about to
return 10 my pipe when a word or two
caught my ear. leaned forward and
listened eagerly.
III ~. .a4Ha 49,.
the drive, steal ladder and you climb
IN at the landing window. We shan't
be disturbed; old Seaton sleeps at the
back of the house, so do the servants"
"Go on"
"Her room is in the front-the first
on the left from the landing window.
spotted it the other night when l was
strolling up and down"
"Ohl never mind that. Hurry up"
"Well, you know what 10 do next.
Seize the little darling, gag her, lower
her down to me-she's a mere feather
weight-follow, and I'll manage the
rest"
"Sh-shl Not so loud"
The speaker glanced apprehensively
over his shoulder at the hotel.
you're sure this place is emptyP" he
went on. "There'n be pretty how dye
do il we've been overheard"
"Of course it's empty. How funky
you arel"
"Well, don't care about the business
'Tis Internally risky, and"
ooh! come, you can't back out of 81
now. You understand Meet me a
1880 o'clock at the crossroads half I
mile from Seaton hall. Then a tramp
few minutes wild excitement, then
Dora and blissl"
Catch your hare before you cook il
Tom. It's a far cry from to-night's ai
fair to bliss and Dora"
"Oh, shut upl I'm off,"
The two men moved away, and +
sank bacirin my chair and gasped.
What could it mean? Did these col
blooded rufiians really eontemplat
breaking into mans house and steal
ing his daughter under his very nose
1t was incredible, impossible; it was
I reused Hargreaves with vigorou
shake "Wake upl" shouted. "wa,
upl Thievesl Burglarsl Kidnapers
Miss Seaton Of Seaton Hall!"
"What the deuce are you tallSin
about?" cried Hargreaves, starting NJ
Are you mad?"
I pulled myself together with an ei
fort, and rapidly ran over what ha
heard.
Believe it or not. as you like"
said, tits true enough. shall be q
Seaton hall at midnight to stop thi
desperate deed, and il lose my iii
in the interest of my fellow creature
my blood be on your head"
This rhetorical display impresse
Bargreayes. Seeing which, followe
It up with a hint of ignoring the LyI
caster police, and capturing the bui
glars off our own bat.
Hargreaves was fetched.