Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-12-01

ing very slowly, so that their rather
sluggish brains might follow me. IL
propose that we three disguise our
selves as police officers. you two as
constables and I as inspector. We
arouse Sir Titus Dlaydes one night and
him that We have reason to be-
lieve that burglars are In the house.
"WhIle he Is waiting and am there
to keep him company. you two fellows
make track for the gallery, and when
you get there yon proceed to make up
the tatue IN the gulse OF a modern
burglar by means OF coat, trousers,
muller, o%vercoat. cap. shoes, beard.
whiskers and grease paint. all OF which
you can conceal about your persons.
Directly the disguise business Is
completed you fire a revolver. Hear
ing the report, I rush Up to the gallery
with a long face to tell Sir Titus that
the burglar. n desperate %rufiinn. has
been accidentally shot. You two men
will then carry down the supposed
burglar, whose face will be covered
with a handkerchief"
Grimes drew a long breath. "Well.
I'm blowed!" he exclaimed hoarsely.
as he knocked the ashes from his clay.
III that amt the FUNNIEST an the cut
est dodge as ever J came acrost. Yer
and, gov'nor. yer and. It's a pleasure
to commit n fellerney with q bloke like
yer to boss It,"
The evening Of Dec. l was a typical
foggy night. BY the time st. Giles
church struck II, a cab containing
Grimes. Harris and myself was on the
way to Longworth Court.
The dressing Of the statue had al
ready been rehearscd a dozen times on
q plaster Apollo which | had bought In
Euston road. and there was therefore
little to fear In the way OF a break
down unless Sir Titus insisted on nc.
companying the supposed constables In
search Of the Imaginary burglars.
However. In all probability he would
do nothing Of the sort; at worst, IL he
did 80. we would simply abandon the
business and go home.
Longworth Court was some 10 miles
from London. and It therefore took us
the best part OF three hours to reach
our destination.
We allghtcd at the end Of the lane
leading to the mansion, and babe Flow
ers. one Of my oldest and smnrtest
chums. to walt till he heard our whis-
tie before driving up to the door. This
p%recaution was taken in ease any local
police CHANGED to be hanging about the
house while we were engaged inside.
We then marched boldly up the drive
and rang the hell. After an interval of
five minutes there was the sound Of
heavy bolts being drawn, and the door
swung open, disclosing a white haired
old nan whom | took to be the butler.
He gave a cry when the light from
his lantern fell Oh our faces and uni
forms.
"Calm yourself. my good man." l
said. assuming an official voice. you
have nothing to fear. From informa-
ton received. we believe that burglars
are In the east wing of this house, and
we have conn to catch them. Arouse
your master Immediately"
Sir Titus Blaydes. a thin, pinched up
little man, appeared quickly. He was
evidently quite rs scared rs his butler.
and when we told him our mission he
wrung his hands.
"Be quick, officers" he screamed, his
face blHnchlng with terror, land / will
wait here In the hall till you return.
Stay. Inspector. You might stop with
me In case the blackguards should
come this way"
During their absence Sir Titus, with
chattering teeth, %conversed with me,
telling me how he had always dreaded
such An attack, and now 1t had come
to pass. His reflections were inter-
rupted by a loud report. which rang
out sharp and clear through the still
house.
darted from the hall and an Instant
later returned, with n gloomy mien.
II regret to say. Sir Titus" | cried,
that the man has been shot dead.
There was only M Of them. but he
made terrible resistance. ahd In the
struggle his own weapon went Of. the
bullet entering his brain. We will take
him away at once"
bOhBhb NY uculb MOulu HIluu bllll
when, after the supposed corpse had
been brought toward the door. Sir
Titus came forward and exclaimed in
a quick. hurried tone: "Stopl Set II
down Strangely enough. in all my IS
years, | have seen a dead man
Let me see the face of this one."
There was nothing TO be done but e
let the morbid baronet have his way
and trust to luck and to the deception
OF wig, paint and beard.
The baronet knelt beside the statue
and raised the handkerchief from the
blood stained face. Then n look OF dis
gust crossed his patriciaD features. and
he rose. having carefully replaced the
handkerchief.
Take It away, officers" he said. "a
more repulsive and rufianly looking
c~ountenance | never saw. Crime Il
stamped on every feature"
And that was how the millionair,
collector OF the antique characterized
statue for which be had refused $3.50.
OOO-LOndon Tft-Bita.