Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-30
CHAPTER XVI


GREAT MEETING.
Number Two called me early on the
morning of the meeting.
You and | are going to travel up to
town together, Number Seven" he
said. 1T will be best so, as in that
case you'll pass as my friend, and no
suspicion will attach to you. Hub
book will follow later. The trap will
be at the door for us in half an hour
If you want the loan of a razor you can
have mine, and perhaps you'd better
put on a suit of my clothes, in case
the police happen to know that our
uniform is blue serge If you'll come
with me, Ill show you my wardrobe,
and you can pick out what will fit you
best, and supply yourself with some
clean linen"
L nodded ''good-by' to my two coll
leagues, Number Four and Number
Six, and clambered down through the
cupboard-top into Number Two's own
room.
When we were out of hearing, he
took me by the arm somewhat famil-
iarly. I'm glad the lot fell upon you,
Number Seven" he said.
'Why?" l asked.
WELL" he answered, I'VE are all
blackguards, or we shouldn't be men,
bers of this rascally syndicate. All
the same think I'd rather work with
a BLACKBOARD who ought to have been
a gentleman (as is, think, the CASE
with you) than with gentleman who
70 ho, hAD III
THAT sounds cleverish,' l replied,
but I'd not know what it means
However, take it that you mean it
complimentary, and that you want me
to infer that you'd rather work with
myself than with either Of the other
two upstairs"
That's it." he said 81 was afraid
1 was going to draw the foreman'-I
always call that glib rascal Number
Six the foreman When he isn't in
solent, he's cringing, and hang me il
1 know when l like him best or leasti"
ought, l suppose, to have been fiat
tered by Number Twos advances, but
was by no means certain whether
his assumption of cordiality towards
myself was not meant as much as a
blind" as for any other reason. And
even had been convinced of his sim
certify, l could not have brought my
self to make friendly overtures to a
man whom 1 was all the time planning
to betray.
So remained discreetly silent, find
except to inform me that breakfast
was nearly ready.
During the meal he told me where
the hall in which the meeting was to
be held was situated. You had bet
ter go there direct" he said, when we
get to London. The care-taker won't
be there till noon. He lives some lit
tie way off, and I've told him to stay
in all the morning, as I'm calling to
see him about the final arrangements,
and haven't time to go far east. But
I've got a duplicate set of keys Here
they are. The switch, for turning the
electric light on and off, is in the space
between the double set of swing baize-
covered doors. You'll see little cup
board high up on the right. The key
is always in il. Turn the light on and
off several times, to make sure you I'M
derstand il. There is n pair of round
glass windows, about on a level with
your head, on the inner set of doors
that lead into the hall. Watch the
platform through them. You'll see
me place the bag containing the cash
on the table. When I put my hand
Cd the top of my head. slip away at
once, and turn off the light"
"And suppose there is a policeman
or the care-taker there?" / asked.
They'll stand in the inner lobby, il
SO" was the reply. THE double set
OF spring doors was put there to keep
out the noise of the street. as well as
to keep out the draught But they
are placed inconveniently near to-
gether-the county council built the
place, expect; no one else would have
done the thing so clumsily-and it's
quite work of art to pass in and out
without getting nasty clump from one
or other Of the swing DOORS"
Il understand" l said. Am / to
turn the light on again afterwards"
No, l shouldn't trouble about that.
III you should chance TO be seen when
turning OFF the light. and you wen;
back to the place afterwards, you
might get collared. The policeman
or the care-taker, or some one else can
sec to that You'd best be off when
you've turned on the total eclipse
You won't be able To get back here
again tonight; but if you come to-
morrow afternoon by the three O'Clock
train from st. Pancras, shall be home
by then, and will meet you with the
trap. You'll be in time for the shar-
ing up of the money Now / think you
have your sailing orders complete
and, if you have finished your break
fast, We'll be off TO town"
Arrived at St Pancras, Number Two
and ! parted company, he perhaps to
plan some new devilry, l to visit the
hall where the meeting was to take
place. 1t was big red-brick building,
lying back a few feet from a main
street. In front was graveled space
with iron ratings. On the right was
lattice-work wooden door opening