The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-20

SEE mere, tnOuSn. l got a scheme.
You pack 'em in thisw
He turned the cigarettes out of the
tin box while the jeweler and Joined
wondering eyes.
Pack EN- in this" repeated Raffles,
the three things we want. aud never
mind the boxes You can pack 'em in
cotton wool Then wen ring for string
and sealin' wax, seal up the lot right
here and you can take EN- away in
your grip. Within three days wen
have our remittance and mail you the
money, and you'll mail us this darned
box with my seal unbro5en. It's nc
use you lookin' so sick, Mr.. Jooler.
You won't trust us any. and yet we're
goin' to trust you some. Ring the bell.
Ezra, and Wen see if they've got any
sealin wax and string"
They had. and the thing was done
The tradesman did not like it. The
precaution was absolutely unneces-
sary, but since he was taking all his
goods away with him, the sold with
the unsold, his sentimental objections
soon fell to the ground He packed
necklet, ring and star with his own
hands in cotton wool. and the cigarette
box held them so easily that at the
last moment. when the box was closed
and the string ready. Raffles very
nearly added diamond bee brooch at
FOL los. This temptation, however, he
ultimately ovcrcame. to the others
chagrin. The cigarette box was tied
up and the string sealed. oddly enough
with the diamond of the ring that had
been bought and paid for.
"Pll chance YOU havin' another ring
in the store the dead spit Of mine"
laughed Rallies as he relinquished the
box and 1t disappeared into the trades
mans bag. And now. Mr.. Robinson. l
hope you'll appreciate my true hospi-
tally in not offerin' you anything to
drink while business was in progress.
That's Chateau Margaux, sir, and l
should judge it's what you'd call an
eighteen carat article"
In The cab which we took to the vi
cinity of the fiat l was instantly
snubbed for asking questions which
the driver might easily overhear, and
| took the repulse just a little to heart.
| could make neither head nor tail of
RaffleS' dealings with the man from
Regent street and was naturally in
quisitive as to the meaning of it all.
But held my tongue until we had re-
gained the fiat in the cautious manner
Of our exit, and even there until Raj
ties rallied me with hand ON either
shoulder and an old smile upon his
face
"You rabbit" said he. why couldn't
you wait till we got homer"
"Why couldn't you tell me what you
were going to do?' l retorted as of
yore.
Because your dear old phiz is still
worth its weight in innocence and be-
cause you never could act for nuts.
You looked as puzzled as the other
poor devil, but you wouldn't if you
had known what my game really was"
"And pray what was it?''
"That." said Raffles, and he smacked
the cigarette box down upon the man
telpiece. 1t was not tied; it was not
sealed 1t flew open from the force
of the impact, and the diamond ring
that cost f95, the necklet for 600 and
my flaming star at another f100, all
three lay safe and snug in the jewelers.
own cotton wool!
"Duplicate boXes." | cried.
duplicate boxes, my brainy Bunny.
One was already packed and weighted
and in my pocket | don't know
whether you noticed me weighing the
three things together in my hand.
know that neither of you saw me
change the boxes, for | did it when I
was nearest buying the bee brooch at
the end, and you were too puzzled and
the other Johnny too keen. 1t was the
cheapest shot in the game. The dear
ones were sending old Theobald to
Southampton on a fools errand yes
terday afternoon and showing ones
own nose down Regent street in broad
daylight while he was gone, but some
things are worth paying for, and GER
tain risks one must always take. Nice
boxes, aren't they? only wished they
contained a better cigarette, but no.
torious brand was essential. A box a
Sullivans would have brought me IL
life tomorrow"
"But they oughtn't to open it tomor-
row."
'Nor will they, as matter Of fact.
Meanwhile. Bunny, l may call upon
you to dispose of the DOODLE"
'T'm on for any mortal thingw
My voice rang true, / swear, but it
was the way of Raffles to take the evil
dence of as many senses as possible.
felt the cold steel of his eye through
mine and through my brain, but what
he saw seemed to satisfy him no less
than what he heard, for his hand found
my hand and pressed it with a fervor
foreign to the man.
II know you ave and l knew you
would be. Only remember, Bunny, it's
my turn next to pay the shotw
You shall hear how he paid it when
the time came.
(END OF SEVENTH Story