The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-02-20

nave mine, and perhaps you'd bette
put on a suit Of my clothes, in cas-
the police happen TO know that GU
uniform is blue serge. II you'll com
with ME, Ill show you my wardrob,
and you can pick out what will At yo
best, and supply yourself with som
clean linen"
nodded "good-by" to my two col
leagues. Number Four and Numbe
Six, and clambered down through tn
cup~board-top into Number Two's owl
room.
When we were out of hearing, h
took me by the arm somewhat famil
iarly. TN glad the lot fell upon you
Number Seven" he said.
"Why?" | asked,
We'll" he answered, we are al
b~lackguards, or we shouldn't be mem
bers of this rascally syndicate. Al
the anne | think I'd rather work viii
a blackguard who ought Il have beer
a gentleman las is, | think, the cas-!
with you) than with a gentleman whc
ought to have been a blackguard."
That sounds cleverish.' | replied
but I'd moi know what it means
However, | take it that you mean il
complimentary, and that you want me
to infer that you'd rather work with
myself than with either OF the other
two upstairs
'NTbotfg {r - bo pnfI sI 49, nfro}j
| was going to draw the foreman
always call that glib rascal Number
Six the foreman When he isn't in
solent, he's cringing, and hang me If
know when | like him best or leastl'
ought. | suppose, to have been fat
tered by Number Two's advances, but
| was by no means certain whether
his assumption of cordially towards
myself was not meant as much as a
blind" as for any other reason! And
even had | been convinced OF his sin
cerity, | could not have brought my
self to make friendly overtures to a
man whom | was all the time planning
TO betray.
So | remained discreetly silent, find
ing which Number Two said no more,
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 SOM lit
lie 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 a little cup
board high up On the right. The key
is always in it, Turn the light on and
off several times, to make sure you I'M
derstand it. There is a 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 | put my hand
on the top of my head, slip away at
once, and turn off the light"
And suppose there is a policeman
or the cafe-taker there?" | asked.
They'll stand in the inner lobby, If
so,' was the reply. The double set
of spring doors was put there to keep
out the noise Of the street, as we'll 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 a work of art to pass in and out
without getting a nasty clump from one
other of the swing doors"
Il understand l said. Am | to
turn the light on again afterwards"
No, | shouldn't trouble about that
i you should chance to be seen when
.urning off the light, and you wen;
pack to the place afterwards, you
get Collared. The policeman,
IT the care-taker, or some one else can
zee to that. You'd best be off when
'ou've turned on the total eclipse.
lou won't be able to get back here
tonight; but If you come to-
afternoon by the three o'clock
rain from st. Pancras. | shall be home
then, and will meet you with the
rap. You'll be in time for the shar-
ag up OF the money. Now think you
ave your sailing orders complete.
nd, if you have finished your break
asst. we'll be off to town"
Arrived at st. Pancras. Number Two
! parted company, he perhaps to
Ian some new devilry, | to visit the
all where the meeting was to take '
lace, 1t was a big red-brick building
ling back a few feet from a main :
In front was a graveled space /
18th iron ratings. On the right was !
lattice-woTk wooden door opening '
pom a narrow passage that ran be. I
the side of the hall and a high '
wall, and leading to the yard I
ehind. 1t was upon this yard thai :
le window Immediately behind the !
Iatform looked, and here lubbock +
as to post himself, in order to Sc. Y
ire the bag containing the money
hen it was thrown out. a
ITo Pc Contiuupd v
Woman's Wisdom. n