Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-04-27
HIS LAST CRIME.

HIS LAST CRIME.
"Crlminals," said my friend James
Rotherby, on one OF those rare occa-
sions when he allowed himeslf to re-
fer to q past which was not entire
ly creditable; criminals are divided
into two classes very much like other
people. There are those who believe
In sticking to the oid-fsahloned meth
DDS, and those whose taste Hes In
the direction OF innovation and reform:
Conservatives and Liberals. 80 TO
speak. Joe Clumbsr, AZ an Illustration,
oivng tenaciously 10 the Views he had
Inherited from father In the same
line OF business, and couldn't see be-
yond the Jenny and the life-preserv-
ar ana 20 forth. I, on the other hand,
perhaps because I'd merely drlfted In
to crime and hadn't been born to 1t.
shrank from the use of such imple-
ments, and preferred stratagem to vio-
lence. And. In spite Of what | am
about to tell you, I'm not going To
admit that was altogether wrong"
He paused. slipped his whiskey ana
water, gave short laugh. aud pro
ceeded
"Well, you see. Clumber and hadn't
had much luok for long time, when
one day happened to spot an adver-
Nsement Of a big picture sale to be
held In Bond Street the same after
noon. showed the newspaper TO
Joe, and after soine discussion II was
arranged that | should go. on the of
chance Of getting wind Of something
V our advantage, as they say Ac-
oordiDGly l dressed myself in suita-
bio toys ana went, having told Clum-
bef should expect good feed when
returned at six Joe, | may men
tiOn, never took on Jobs requiring
swell get-up. FroGk-c0a.s and light
kids didn't become him, and he knew
his limitations.
~ couldn't find fault with the meal
awaiting me when | got back from
the sale. On the contrary. | enjoyed
II 81 much that II was some minutes
before l could spare time for CONVEX
sutton. Then | said, magnanimous-
ly:-
'Now, Joe, I'll satisfy your curiosi-
ty
It's about time you did grunted
my partner; but ignoring the observa.
ton, | continued
I" Most Of the things sold to day
were more or less rubbish, but there
was one-qulte a small picture, about
9ft. by 2ft.-that went for three thou
sand pounds.
"Clumbers eyes sparkled. Three
thousand quidT he echoed.
" Yes II was a 0ainsborOugh.'
A whatT
"A GalnsbOrouRh. That's the name
Of the painter, you know
'Oh--Wellr
Well, Joseph, do you think II we
could get hold OF that picture, the re-
delyer, Or fence, as you call him, we've
dealt with before would take II OFF
our handsT
But sln't this all little previous,
Rothsrby? We amt got the picture
yet, ave weT
" Not yet, certainly, but |
paused. and added impressiveiy, I
know who's bought 1t, and when It's
going to be sent TO his house. I man
aged to overhear what he said to the
auctionoer's clerk. He's an old gen
tlsnan-his name Ii Bucklelgh, and
he lives at THE Lindens," Cocker.
mouth Gardens, HighGate. The picture
In to be delivered there between six
and seven to morrow evening
after some parlsy It was agreed
that we should proceed at once TO
Cook srmOuth Gardens to zee what sort
of locality II really was. so little
later we left our roops-we were iodg-
Ing In Soho-and caught the yellow
bus to the Archway Tavern. Then, af-
ter mounting Highgate Hill, and max
Ing one or two Inquiries, we found the
place we were In search Of.
" "The Lindens' was one OF eight
houses, each of which wns detached,
and fronted by II long garden sur.
rounded by n quickest hodge. and con
tanning as n rule some pretty big trees
That the houses were NJ much alike
an peas In pod was obvious, even IN
the darkness OF an Ortober evening.
We discovered from a notice board sus-
pended from a tree, however, that the
house next door TO The Llndens' was
TO be sold, and, ON going forward TO
the light wooden gate that gave access
10 the garden, we found that the place
WAS called "Tbe Elms.' Evidently the
house was In charge Of caretaker,
for only the hall was lighted. Then
we made two other discoveries; the
houses were mined, hut not numbered
and the name was In each case dis
played on n gate precisely similar TO
thnt which / have already mentioned.
"Thesc were the facts turned over
I'm nv mind AZ we rode homeward 81
l.utIy on the top Of the bus. and be-
fore we got down TO the corner of Tot
tenhnm Rond. | had developed n plan.
nj cnce simple and daring. which /