The Republican., 1899-10-19

we might; Tor we We just got money
enough to pay our fares, and the trip'd
do us good, eh, Joe?'
but amt this all little previous,
Rotherby? We amt got the picture
yet, ave we?'
mot yet, certainly, but Ipaused,
and added, impressively: L know
who's bought it, and when it's going to
be sent to his house. l managed to over
hear what he said to the auctioueer's
clerk. He's an old gentleman-his
name is Bucllleigh, and he lives at THE
Lindens," Cockermouth Gardens, High
gate. The picture is to be delivered
there between six and seven tomorrow
evening"
"'All right said Joe; then we'll
burgle the place tomorrow night
Perhaps we can do better than
that L suggested. There are some
lonely parts in Highgate, and my idea
is that Cockermouth Gardens is one of
them. If so, we might prevent the pic
ture ever being delivered
Safer to crack the crib persisted
Clumber; but [ shook my head.
""That's nonsense, joe, l said. 1T
means delay for one thing, and very
likely hue and cry would be raised be-
fore we could get on board the boat for
Antwerp. Then it'd be all up with us,
for they'd examine the luggage of ev-
eryone leaving the country, and,
though the pictures a small one, it's
not small enough to conceal. My plan,
on the other hand, would allow us to
catch the eight o'clock train at Liver
pool street, and it's hundred to one
we would be on board the boat before
they'd have time to send round TIE
alarm
"Clumber admitted reluctantly that
there was some force in my arguments
and eventually it was agreed that we
should proceed at once to Cockermouth
Gardens to see whaS sort of locality it
really was. So little later we left our
rooms-we were lodging in Soho-and
caught the yellow bus to the archway
tavern. Then, after mounting High
gate Hill, and making one or two in
quiries, we found the place we were in
search of.
1.-The Lindens' was one of eight
houses, each of which was detached
and fronted by long garden surround
ed by quickest hedge, and containing as
rule some pretty big trees. That the
houses were as much alike as peas in
a pod was obvious, even in the darkness
of an October evening. We discovered
from a notice-board suspended from
a tree, however, that the house next
door to The Lindens' was to be sold.
and, on going forward to the light wood
en- gate that gave access to the garden,
we found that the place was called The
Elms.' Evidently the house was in
charge of a caretaker, for only the hall
was lighted. Then we made two other
but not numbered, and the name was
i'll each case displayed on a gate pre-
cisely similar to that which | have al
ready noticed.
''These were the facts | turned over
in my mind as we rode homeward 81
lently on the top of the bus, and before
we got down at the corner of Totten-
ham Court road | had developed plan,
at once simple and daring, which | felt
certain could not possibly fail.
"'Clumber, my boy | cried, when
we had made our way into quiet pub,
I see it all. It's as clear as daylight
HIM murmured Clumber. so you
said in that diamond affair the other
day, and yet we were as nearly as pos
sible copped, to say nothing of losing
the swag.'
"'Never mind that, Joseph; this case
is quite different, and there's absolute
ly no chance of anything going wrong.
But first of all, tell me what you'd do?'
THE only thing l can think Of said
he, is to knock down the chap who
brings the picture along, and bolt with
it; though, if he should come in a cab
or if there should be two of them,
don't suppose we could manage the job,
lonely as Cockormouth Garden is. It'd
be safer to crack the crib, as l told you
before
Listen, joe said |. I've thought
of the difficulties you mention, and !
see exactly how we can get over them
You remember that THE Elms," the
house next door to "The Lindens," is to
be sold?'
''He nodded.
"'Well, this is my scheme We must
get the man who brings the picture to
The Elms" for The Lindens,"
and wait for him in the garden
How are we to do that?'
Easily enough. The name of each
house is on the gate, isn't it?'
Eyes
Every good. then we'll change the
gates. All We'll have to don be to lift
them off the iron uprights they're hung
on, and transpose them. 1t won't take
a minute
"'lt could be DONE assente1 Joe. re-
fectively, but even then the bloke'd
notice that 'The Elms' is empty
"'Not he, there's a caretaker in the
house, and the hall gas'll be lit as it
was tonight
1.-The caretaker might spot us
"'We must risk that; there are plen-
ty of trees in the garden, and we're not
likely to make any great noise, are
we"
But there's the noticeboard on the