The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-02

No, you must remember to loaf out at
slow march, Bunny whether you like it
or not
"Buty you talked about hid:ng-place
for night?"
Quite so-for all night We should hare
to get back, 60 on lying low, and saunter
out with the crowd next day-after doing
the whole show thoroughly
What! With gold In our pockets
! And gold in our boots and gold up
fthe sleeves and legs of our suits You
leave that to me. Bunny, and wait TIL
you've tried two pairs of trousers sewn
together at the 'front.' This Is only pre-
liminary reconnoitre. And here we are
1t is none of my business to describe the
iso-called Room of Gold, with which I,
flor one, was not a little disappointed.
The glass cases, which both fill and line IT,
may contain unique examples of the
goldsmith's art in times and places of
which one heard quite enough in the
course of ones classical education; but,
from a.professional point of view, would
as lief have the ransaclSing of single
window in the West End as the p.>x of
all those spoils of Etruria and of an
cient Greece. The gold may not be so
soft as 1t appears, but 1t certainly looks
as though you could bite off the business
lends of the spoons, and stop your own
teeth in doing so. Nor should | care to
De seen wearing OIlt Vi TIE iillSsf Jul iiAO
greatest fraud of all (from the afore-
said standpoinD is assuredly that very
cup of which Raffles had spoken. More
over, he felt this himself.
Why, it's as thin as paper" said he,
"and -Auamelled like a middel-aged lady
sof qualityl But by Jove, it's one of the
hnost beautiful things l ever saw in my
ilife, Bunny. l should like to have 1T for
hts own sake, by all my gods!
] The thing had a little square case of
! plate glass all to itself at one end of the
ROOM 1t may have been the thing or
beauty that Raffles affected to consider
1t. but l for my part was In no mood
to look at 1t in that light. Underneath
were the names of the plutocrats who had
for this national gewgaw, and
II fell to wondering where their $500 came
in, while Raffles devoured his two-penny
guide booktas greedlly as schoolgirl with
a, zeal for culture.
"Those are scenes from the martyrdom
fof st. Agnes said he " trans
fluoent on relief one of the finest
specimens of it's kind l should think it
was Bunny, you Phiistine, why can't you
,admire the thing for its own sake? 1t
would be worth having only to live up to!
There never was such rich enamelling on
such thin gold. and what a good scheme
TO hang the lid up over 1t, so that
you can see how thin 1t is I wonder il
we could lift 1t, Bunny, by book or
crook?"
you'd better try, SIR said a dry voice
iat mis- elbow.
The mailman seemed to think we had
vthe room to ourselves. l knew better
but, like another mailman. had let him
ramble on unchecked. And here was
stolld constable confronting us In the short
tunic that they wear in summer, his
whistle on its chain. but no truncheon at
his side Heavensi How see him now
a man OF medium size, with broad.
good humored, perspiring face and limp
mustache. He looked sternly at Raffles
and Raffles looked merrily at him.
"Going to run me in, officer?' said he.
.That would be joke-my hiatt"
1T didn't say as I was, sir" replied the
policeman. "But that's queer talk for a
gentleman like you, sir, in the British
museum! And he wagged his helmet at
my anvalid, who had taken his airing
In frock coat and top hat, the more read
lily to assume his present part.
WHAT! cried Raffles simply saying
to my friend that I'd like to lift the gold
cut? Why, so I should. officer, SO l should!
I don't mind who hears me say so. It's
one of the most beautiful things l ever
saw in all my life"
The constable's face hal already relaxed.
and now a grin peeped under the limp
mustache. ST dare say there's many as
feels like that, sir" said he.
EXACTLY; and 1 say what | feel, that's
ALL" said Raffles airily. ~But seriously,
officer, is a valuable thing like this quite
safe in a case like that?"
Safe enough as long as I'm here" re-
piled The other between grim jest and
stout earnest. Raffles studied his face;