The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-03

1 .
ahead and up the short flight OF stairs.
followed by tho other mon and boy.
"Are you all hcre7 Tollow mo III SIN
gle file, and each man taking the other
| BY the coat stole silently across the great
| hall into the dning.roon, now silent but
50 lately ringing with gay laughter.
,.Where is the safer asked Shorty, in
low tone.
| "over here was the reply. Get the
other light ana tools. will shoot the
| catch to this window In case we are dis
turbed. Now get to work quick. Here
Is the panel. Throw }ttes1lsht here, Red
die. There we are. There Is tho safe;
to spare, thanks to that butler"
Tho man bent Ito his task. and before
| long the door swung; back on Its hinges
and the contents. was at their mercy.
CHAPTER VI.
"Now, boys, look sharp. Put the silver
into the bag. I will take this drawer and and
| look after It." # q 51 81:
1"vyhat's the matter with Bobs Looks
like he was froze. My God. a ghost
Just in tho doorway Of the room, where
| the three men rested horTor-struck on an
| apparation all In white, holding light
and staring with wide open 1eyes. .5
Al For q moment there wasa Intense 81
Hence, then the figure dropped the liBht
with q scream and fled. Bobs followed
| mechanically. with London at MS heels.
| the others dropping out OF the window. Z,
"Run for the door, Bobs. :" whisper ed
London as ne passed him, follow me" e
Bobs WAS IN the hall by this time, but
was still dazed by the fright. a light
flashed UP on the stairs and suddenly
pistol shot rang out In the silence and
he felt q stingtng sensation In his shoul-
Jn.s Ill 70 ito
but London coming quickly back, seized
him around the waist and bore him rap
Idly away.
Il. Nj. CHAPTER VII.
/ Gorge Sand, Mt. Van Nostrand' g
nephew, had gone directly to bed. being
rather tired. He had SCARCELY fallen.
asleep. when he was awakened BY a loud
scream, and rushing ont into the upper
hall. he heard steps upon the stairs,
He seized his revolver and hurried
down as he heard his younger cousin.
Anita voice as she ran screaming up the
stairs. Touching a button as ne ran,
| he turned on the light in the hall below
what Is 1t, Anita? Quick. tell me"
..Robbers-dlning room' slio gasped as
she ran by him to her sisters room. Z
George Sand stepped onto the landing at
the head OF the stairs. and seeing q fig
iure standing in the doorway OF the hall
below, leading into the drawing-room. no
| fired.
| nv this time the household was aroused
and came flocking to the hall and stairs!
7'.yyhat is all this nose?" asked Mr.
| Van Nostrand as he came out OF his
room in his dressing gown.
..Robbers, sir" answered Sand. "Anita
saw them In the dlning-room.F and dashed
up stairs screaming.
"Anfta sa w them in the dinIng-room?
What on earth was she doing there at
| this time OF night?
"Warking In her sleep. papa." answered
| Nellie Van Nostrand, "she does IT quite
frequently in winter when she does not
get enough exercise.
| -1VValking In her sleep. The dining
room, aid you say r asked Mr.. Van Nos
t1n,d. olutohlng the stair rail- 'the din.
| ing.room? Ny God! Ny gems! Quick,
C;eorge, turn on the gas below, quick
mani" ana lie moved rapidly to the hall
below, Sf
room, his fears we're verified, for the safe
was open, and the siver scattered around
IN the floor. The old man looked for
the drawer, but It had been taken out.
Suddenly his eye lit on It on the dining
room table. 3
but my sapphires ana fuoles' my e 600
| they are gone!'
He staggered back at the blow, but
his nephew caught him and helped him
to chair in which he seated him carefu!-
| ~,
''Why did I not send them away Car Car
| lingford told me that was taking q
4 great risk. Fool, fool that was, Just
Is satisfy my eyes I kept them here 81.
'TIow much Is the loss uncle 7"
"Oh. tho monsy5loss Is nothing to me-
George. It Ia the stones ! had oo! ice !,
cd them everywhere and for yea rs, r y ~
were perfect specimens, and az o. the' i.
gone am too 9la g ar rep hat think
npr am on sofpy t iSs 2Ss s drappea
il t tie middle Of the hall. hut did not
SEQ him there ~ we passed. ~, !, ! i,
HI.et us look tor him. come WIN n me- I'', I,
The elderly man rose ano .lea sne MY =, ;,
to the hall, which was y n4 y ne ~ narior
.ysr,s two largo spots OF blood. and there
were WEI others, by which they tFacea I inc
i ,f,irht ia the side door.
/ Nt.HsAf,. here is where they came IN,
George. See. the door ts open"
1 $50 is the window. sir W
nYes it is, Il suppose someone came In
j through It and opened the door"
NaWell. one of them Is hurt. and that
~ Iaast is q comfort Wed better tele-
phone the police, think do you not
j think so. uncle r. ,G
eyes, yes; but It Is too late now. too
late.s the stones arc gone
CHAPTER VIII,
nfIow do you foel now, Robsi better,
old echap?'' London leaned over the boy,
WHO lay on q cot In the Inner room,
which has been spoken Of.
aaYes better now. hut how the old
thing stings. Say, can't you get a. doc
j torY He might do something"
eyes, Bo,s, and when to-morrow's pas
pers tell OF the great robbery at Mr.. Van
4 Nostfand's and speak Of the shooting
Of one OF the robbers. peThaPs the doc
I tor might put town and two together and
4 you would 20 to the Jug
..T that's 50, London. You are smart, Is
n you are English I. /.
|. self. NoSboy ever had your eyes and
4 "a AZ ~ that X Wesn ~ EnHltsh 4 born, or at