The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-31

Although Edgey had been positive that
not soul was left in the house, they had
both come provided with scraps OF Grape
with which they cautiously covered their
ugly faces before beginning business.
They also carried a dark lantern. which
was lighted and closed. only TO be used
In such OF the rooms as were closely shut
tered All the others were explored and
ransacked by the stray CLEANS OF light
from the street lamps or opposite houses.
"A miserable hunk Of a place. without
"a much as n bit OF bread and cheese
left for a feller," he Growled; and as for
plate. where IS it?"
Here some" said Edgey at last. pris-
ing open one OF the locked cupboards. and
revealing glittering display Of silver. II
knowod what l was after. never you
fear"
Touscr took one or two OF theiarticles
down and examined them inside the press
by the aid OF his lantern and then cursed
more urguardcdly than ever.
Just as / expected-every blowed bit of
il o-plate-cheapest ldnd-that
would rub off II ye only looked at IT,.
spoons the same - brass, not
even nickel curse ON; forks
plated too. but rather thicker only
they're old-fnshioned been bought at
some sale very Ike. Curse them. what
90 they mean by it7 Swlndllng us poor.
Innocent. hard-working prigs--not an ar
tice worth carrying away. Tell ys Ed
gey. this age Is going all 10 pot--every-
things sham-not "A bit OF reality about
anything Wen be having sham prigs
next and sham detectives There should
bo a bill brought into Parliament making
II wrong 10 use anything but real silver.
II don't give us chance. this condemned
electro plate stuff"
A short oxplorat tion of the other rooms.
however convinced them that there was
very little else worth lifting except
some dresses and clothes for which they
thought they might find market, IL
they could only get them safely through
the streets 10 some hiding-place. The elec-
tro-plate was accordingly packed up as
securely as possible i'm two pieces OF
vyoollen table-cover. which they tore up
for the purpose. and then made up into
two parcels, and covered with two SUPER
fine black coats belonging TO Mr.. Wood
ford
At this interesting stage of the pro-
cecding there was TO be a slight diver
tisement which neither had bargained
for. While Touser was I'm the act of ty-
ing up his bundle. and with every tug at
the string cursing the inventor OF electro
plate and his ancestors TO the beginning
of time. he suddenly paused with knot
unfastened. and exclaimed
"Sst! isn't that like some one coming
in below?"
Both paused and listened breathlessly;
and then their hearts almost stood still
as they heard key quietly turned in the
lock of the front door below.
IT'S the beaks. and we're done for!"
cried Edgey. dropping with a squirm on
the carpet. and beginning TO wiring his
hands. Touser's reply was to reach over
the bundle, and grasp Edgey by the
throat and shake him till he was nearly
choked.
''lf you don't hold your jaw. I'll kill
ye!'' he hissed. under his breath: and
Edgey knowing his disposition. was
dumb I'm moment.
They then heard the outer door as
II had been opened. and presently heard
the intruder pause close to the hat stand.
az If was, like themselves, divesting
himself Of his boots before proceeding
further.
IF 1t was a bobby he'd have locked the
door after him and took the key before
anything" said Trouser. in an excited
whisper to the sweating coward in his
grasp. Surely IL can't he two of trade
spotted the same plant7"
Edgey was unable TO pass an opinion,
or even to earticplate a word. being al
ready half insensible with terror.
There ensued painful pause-painful TO
Trouser. because he was puzzled and in
tently listening for any sound likely TO
put him right and painful to Edgey, be-
cause sundry movements OF the powerful
ruffian grssping him seemed to indicate
that he was getting out knife. There
was for moment or two dead stiffness
below then there was a sound like the
striking OF match. and opening and
closing OF lamp door. and then a soft
fall OF footsteps on the lobby and stairs
leading up 10 the room in which the
houscbreakers were breathlessly crouch
ing With the first football on the stair