The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-08

You would knock him up at this
hour of the u:ght?"
IF he's in bed"
And its essential that should 60
in with you?"
Absolutely"
Then must but I'm bound to sa-
don't like the idea. Ratfles."
DO you prefer the alternatives" ask
ed my companion. with a sheer No
hang it. that's unfair" lie cried apo'1-
getically in the same breath i a,i:te
understand. Its a heastly ordeal BIZ
it would never 60 foy You TO stag or
side | te,l you wha:. YOU shat have
a peg before we start-jusr one.
There's the whisky. here's >iphon
and Ill be putting on an overcoa.
while you help yourself"
Well, dare say ! did so with some
freedom, for this plan OF his was not
the less distaStefu. 10 me from its APP
parent inevitablity must own how
ever, that il possessed fewer terriers
before my glass was empty Mean
while Rafiles rejoined me With a GOV.
ert coat over his blazer and soft felt
! hat set carelessly on the curly head he
shook with smile as passed him the
decanter
when we come back" said he
"Work first. play afterward Do you
see what day it is?' he added, tearing
a leafiet from Shakespearean calen-
dar as l drained my glass. March
10. The ides of March, the ides of
March, remember Eth, Bunny. my
boy? You won't forget them. will you:"
And. with a laugh. he threw some
Goals on the fire before turning down
the gas like a careful householder So
we went out together as the clock on
the chimney piece was striking 2.
Piccadily was trench Of raw white
fog, trimmed with blurred street lamps
and lined with a thin coating Of ad-
hesive mud. We met no other way
farers on the deserted flagstones and
were ourselves. favored with a very
hard stare from the constable of the
beat, who, however, touched his helmet
on recognizing my companion.
you see, I'm known to the police"
laughed Raffies as we passed on. Poor
devils They've got to keep their wealth.
er eye open on night like this. A fog
, may be bore to you and me, Bunny,
but it's perfect godsend to the crimi.
nal classes. especially so late in their
season. Here we are, though, and I'm
hanged If the beggar isn't in bed and
asleep after allp'
We had turned into Bond street and
had halted on the curb a few yards
down on the right. Raffies was gaz-
ing up at some windows across the
road, windows barely discernible
through the mist and without the glim.
mer of light to throw them out. They
were over a jewelers. shop, as l could
see by the peephole in the shop door
and the bright light burning within.
But the entire upper part" with the
private street door next the shop, was
black and blank as the sky itself.
Better give 1t up for tonight" /
urged. Surely the morning will be
time enough"
Not a bit of It," said Raffles. 81
have his key. Well surprise him.
Come along"
And, seizing my right arm, he hurried
me across the road, opened the door
with bis latchkey and in another mo-
ment had shut 1t swiftly but softly
behind US. We stood together in the
dark. Outside, a measured step was
approaching. We had heard it through
the fog as we crossed the street. Now.
as it drew nearer, my companions
fingers frightened on my arm.
1T may be the chap himself" he
whispered Hes the devil of night
bird. Not sound. Bunny. Wen star
tie the life out of him. Ali"
The measured step had passed with.
out a pause. Raffles drew a deep
breath, and his singular grip of me
slowly relaxed.
BE still; not sound" he contin.
ued in the same whisper. We'll take
rise out of him wherever he is. Slip of
your shoes and follow me-"
Well, you may wonder at my doing
so, but you can never have met A, ].
Ratfies. Half his power lay in a con-
fcONTrN-TTrD az pAf,u o.