Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-04
and this fabric had evidently become as dry and inflammable as finder.
CHAPTER XxIV. "FIRE!"

SlQe, ana LnlS QOuDLleSS playeu HO llL- tie part in bringing about what fol- lowed.
 remember that as the lamp fell, i licking tongue of fire ran-like a monkey running up rope-along tho drapery, and that before I had time to get out from under the table, almost before the gaping face of Stocker had disappeared from the hole overhead, the entire roof was one sheet of flame. learnt afterwards from Number Two that he had the house retiled before he and lubbock had set about con- structing the secret chamber. The in telligent British workman to whom the task was entrusted had made heavy additional charge in the bill for what he called "Weather-p -prooflng" the roof, by method of his own inventing, l upon which he greatly plumed himself. Tn the matter of keeping rain out, this system of weather -proofing gave Hall every satisfaction, but viewed from another standpoint, it caused him con- siderable dneasiness, for he had re- gently discovered that the material used for wadding the interstices be- tween the tiles, was 8 kind of skein oakum, which, being saturated with tar, was highly inflammable. Like every wise man, Number Two had a horror of fire, and he at once decided to substitute an asbestos preparation for the oakum. The asbestos had been procured, and the work of substitution commenced, when the unexpected ad- vent of the conspirators, and their in stallment at Heath cottage, put stop ], to a work which the fates had de- creed should never be finished for within three minutes from the falling of the lamp, the upper part of Heath cottage was a royal roaring furnace,
 Warm work, that!" gasped Number Two, breathlessly, when he, lubbock, the silent councillor, Number. Six, and myself-coughing and choking and not all unsinged--found ourselves out side. Warm for the bobbies, too, poor devils. The man on the roof was in the thick of the fire, and must be cinder by now. I think the other chap hurt himself when he fell; anyhow, he hasn't got out, and never will now. We'd better be off, and by separate ways The neighbors will be here in no time. But we must settle some place of meeting first. Where shall it be, and when? Tomorrow morning at 12, by the bookstall at St. Pancras station. I'll secure a carriage to our selves by the Southend train, and we can talk things over going down. No one will notice us there, and if they do, they'll only think we are going to bean-feast party. So we are, for 1 we're going to give some of them beans before we've done with them aren't we? Now I'm of, and you'd better do the same"
 | As the other four struck across the field I made for the high road. I had snatched up my hat when leaving the | cottage, and as there was nothing in l my dress to attract attention, and I | had no reason to believe that I was ! known personally to, or wanted by the I police, I thought my safest plan would be to go boldly ahead.
 After I had walked a mile or so, met black-bearded man dressed as if for bicycling and wearing a cloth cap.
 Gan you tell me" he said, politely, which is the shortest way. to house called Heath cottage, in the occupation of MT. Hall ?"
 "No," replied, T can't"
 "Then you are a stranger in this neighborhood? he asked.
 tI'm stranger to you said, curt ly, resenting his inquisitiveness.
 II see. Then when you said just now that you couldn't tell me my way to Heath cottage, you meant that you
 IT you ike answered. ."rake it either way. It's none of your busi- ness''
 .Oh, yes, 1t is." vas his off-hand re- I ply. II happen to be police officer, I you see, and shall have to trouble you to return with me as far as Tar borough"
 Then he burst into laugh. Don t upset yourself, Number Seven. only wanted to satisfy myself that the dis guise was all right, and it certainly seems to be so, since you didn't recog- nize your chief and late host,
 You took me by surprise" I said, feeling and looking rather foolish, "and gave me a bit of a fright into the bargain. I recognize you now easily enough. But to meet you coming in this direction and in disguise was enough to deceive any one. How on earth did you manage it in the time You haven't been into the cottage again, surely?"
 Easiest thing in the world, my dear fellow" he said, lightly. My motto l is, Always be prepared for an emer- gency.' When you saw me last, some 20 minutes ago, was wearing pep- per-and-salt coat and trousers. But my clothes are all made with two sides to them. There's nothing unusual about this coat, Is there. except that it is buttoned close, as all my coats are But if you turn it inside out. it would be pepper-and-salt again instead ot blue serge. I always wear stockings instead of socks, and the arrangement of my own by which can change trousers into knickerbockers is simple and works so we'll, that I think of pat Gntin2 if ,0ua dav The heard and rbe