Evening journal., 1899-07-24

Ah-ha! There they were-the ruff
6ans Thank goodness, only two of
them. They sneaked along on the mar
row strip of grass bordering the gravel
drive. passed and disappeared into the
darkness.
a few minutes elapsed. Then Ian
terms red bull's-eye cleaned out close
to the ground. Two figures reared a
ladder against the house wall.
One of the men mounted and disap-
peared. could hear Hargreaves' breath
coming in quick gasps. My teeth chat
tered.
Now the fellow was at the window
again. He clutched something in his
arms. Miss Dora Seaton? No not
Miss Dora Seaton-a bundle. A kick
ing struggling bundle
Silently, swiftly he descended. The
ladder was removed, the red light of
the lantern extinguished. We felt the
two coming toward us in the darkness.
My heart beat up into my throat, my
knees shook, but clutched the black
thorn cudgel.
'Nowl" cried Hargreaves.
We sprang out. Each hurled himself
on his man, seizing him by the throat.
and hung on.
The shock Of the attack was irresist-
ible. With scarcely a sound, scarcely
even a scuiile, we forced the fellows
down. Tightening my grip
"lf they struggle" l cried to an
imaginary comrade in the darkness;
''if they struggle, irel"
] gagged my man, bound his unre-
sisting hands, turned on the lantern
and staggered back 10 utter amaze
ment.
'"Grahaml" / cried. "Grahaml"
"Dagmorel" CALCULATED Hargreaves.
Tom Dagmorel by the powersl"
Hargreaves and l stared at one an
other. The burglars lay and glared
at us, gagged and helpless. The my
terious bundle struggled and plunged
about our feet. Over all loomed the
shadow of the old hall, wrapped in si-
lent darkness.
Then Hargreaves began 10 laugh. He
rolled about the drive in speechiess ag-
ony, stufing his handkerchief into his
mouth and gurgling. ! subsided on the
ground in silent convulaions.
No wonder. Graham and Dagmore,
undergraduates Of All Souls, Oxbridge.
breaking into the house of highly re-
, spectacle country squire to steal-ah,
yesl 10 steal what?
jumped up, seized the bundle. and
released-as small toy terrier, with blue
ribbon round its neck and a gag stuffed
into its mouth.
1t was inexplieable. it was mysteri-
gus, it was the best thing we had been
in for months. With a Simultaneous
impulse we unbound the rufians.
They gazed at each other ruefully, then
at us, and once more laughter rendered
us all speechless.
Come out of this, j whispered, pres
emily, 1--WE shall have the household
down on u.s."
We crept down the drive. l hardly
dared breathe till we were outside the
gates.
''Now then" said to Graham, "er-
plain"
"os. after you, sir" said Graham
"after you'll"
"Yes," echoed Bag1nore, what the
dickens are you doing in this affair?"
l told them. Having stood what We
considered a legitimate amount OF
chaff, we put a stop to it, and bads
them sire away"
"The fact is" said Graham, dag
more is in love; it's Miss Dora seaton. 50
Every interesting" remarked. but
it hardly seemed TO account for his
stealing her dog"
"Oh." said Graham, "I'm coming to
that. Dora walks on Lyncaster pieI
daily after tea. So does the dog. So
for the fortnight we have been down
here, have Dagmore and /. Dagmere
was smitten with Dora at once. and We
have tried every dodge we know TO
get an introduction. No 60 Fair
means failing, we tried foul"
1 stared.
"We are due at Oxbridge next week,
you know. Dagmore is getting fran
tic.
AT last he hit on a brilliant idea.
Dora is devoted TO the dog. 1t occurred
10 him how convenient it would be
IL the little beast would get itself lost
or stolen, and we could find and re-
store IL to her. As this did not seem
likely TO happen, we decided, as you
see, to steal il ourselves. Tomorrow
there viii be a hue and cry all oy,
I Lyncaster-p posters up, rewards OF
/ fered, Dora in despair, Dagmore scour-
ing the country for the dog-restora-
tion-introduction-gratitude-b blissl"
well. of all the romantic, daredevil
young foosl" ! began.
But" broke in Hargreaves, "how
did you know where the dog was kept
at night? And how dare you risk lbs
barking and rousing the household?'
"Dagmore's landfady and the cook as
Seaton hall exchange weekly tea and
mullins. Which answers your first
question"
"And the seconG?'
Graham produced 2 small phial.
Chemistry" he said. pompously,
chemistry is a most useful study. a
few drops of this liquid on a lump Of
sugar sends n small doc 10 sleeD for