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


the inquiring alien and the
III travelled American. A true,
Londoner, however l my-i
self had never heard of it
until Rafnes casually pro-
posed a raid.
'The older I grow, Bunny, the less 1
think of your so-called precious stones.
When did they ever bring In half their
market value in e. s. d.? There was the
first little crib we ever cracked together
you with your innocent eyes shut. A
thousand pounds that stuff was worth,
but how many hundreds did it actually
fetch? The Ardagh emerals weren't
much better, old Lady. Melroses necklace
was far worse but that little lot the
other night has about finished me. A
cool hundred for goods priced well over
four, and 935 to come off for bait, since
we only got q tenner for the ring L
bought and paid for like an ass. I'll be
shot If I ever touch diamond again.
Not If 1t was the Kohinoor; those few
whacking stones are too well known and
to cut them upsis to decrease their'value
by arithmetical retrogression Besides
that brings you up against the Fence
once more, and I'm done with the beg
gars for good and ALL You talk about
your editors and publishers you Hterary
swine! Barabbas was neither a robber
nor a publisher, but a six-barred' bar
bed-wire, spike-topped Fence What we
really want Is an Incorporated society Oh
Thieves with some public spirited old
forger to run it for US on business lines.
Raffies uttered these blasphemies under
his breath not, am afraid. out OF any
respect for my redeeming profession, Dut
because we were taking midnight ar
ing on the roof after whole day OF
June in the little fiat below. The stars
shone overhead. the lights of London UNI
derneath, and between the lips OF Raf-
fies a cigarette of the old and only
brand I had sent In secert for box OF
the best The boon had arrived thar
night, and the foregoing speech was the
first result. could afford 20 Ignore the
insolent asides, however where lhe ap7
parent contention was so manifestly un-
sound. -, :.
'.And how are you going to get rid OF
your gold?' said pertinent1y.
Nothing easier, my dear rabbit
rs your Room of Gold a roomful OF
sovereigns?"
Raffes laughed softly at my scorn.
mo. Bunny, IT. q principally in the shape
of archaic ornaments, whose value, l adj
NIT Ia largely extrinsic. But gold Is
gold from Phoenicia to Kiondike, ana IT
we cleared the room we should eventual
ly do very WELL"
"Howr'
IT should melt It down into nugget and
bring 1t home from the U. s. A tomor-
row"
And them"
..Make them pay .up in hard. cashsacross
tbe counter of the Bank of England. And
you can make Them
That knew, and so said morning ior
time. remaining a hostile though a silent
critic while we paced the cool piack
leads with our bare feet SOFTLY as cats.
And how do you propose to get
enough away at length 1 asked, ito
make It worth whileT
"Ah, there you have It, said Raffles.
4 only propose to reeonnoftre the ground
10 see what we can see. We might hnd
some hiding place for a night; that, l
\ am afraid. would be our only cnanoe'
i "Have YOU ever been there beforeT
mot since they got the one good. port
able piece which believe that they ex-
hibit now. It's a long time since l read
Of I'll can't remember where-but L
know they have got gold cup OF sorts
worth several thousands. A number OF
the tmmorally rich dubbed together and
PRESENTED It to the nation. and two of the
richly immoral intend to snanle 1t Tor
themselves. At any rate we might go and
have a look at it, Bunny, don't you
think?"
mink, I seized his arm.
"Whenr When2 When?' I asked like
a quick-firfng gun.
.@rbe sooner the better, while old Theo-
bald's away on his honeymoon"
orr rnedico was married the week be-
fore. nor was any fellow-practitioner taxi
ing his work-at least not that consid-
cradle branch of 1t which consisted OF
Notwithstanding his brief absence from
town. There were reasons. delightfully."- OBJ
yious to us. why such plan would nave
heen highly unwise in DR.. Theobald. l.
however, was sending his daily screeds
and both matutinal and nocturnal tele-
grams. the composition of which affords
Raffles not a little enjoyment
..Well, then, when-when?' I began to
repeat.
Tomorrow If you like"
'.Only to look?'
The limitation was my one regret.
1--WE must do so, Bunny, before we
leap"
1t Isl"
And the morrow 1t really was
saw the porter that night and. l still
think. bought his absolute allegiance for
the second coin OF the realm MY s,ory'
however invented by Raffies. was suf-
GENTLY specious In itself. That sick gen.
tleman, Mr.. Maturin (as had to remem-
her to call him), was really or apparently
sIckening for fresh air. DR.. Theobald
would allow him none; he was Fostering
me for Just one day in the country wnlle
the glorious weather lasted. l was my
self convinced that no possible harnl
could come of the experiment. Would
the porter help me In so innocent and
meritorious an intrigue? The man hesi-
tated. 1 produced my half sovereign.
The man was lost. And at half-past
next morning, before the heat of the day,
Raffies and l drove to Kew Gardens in a
hired landau, which was to call for US at
midday and wait until we came ne por-
ter had assisted me to carry my inval1d
down stairs, in carrying chair hiren
dixie the Landau from Harrods stores
for the occasion.
together into the gardens; by half-past
my invalid had had enough, and out he
tottered on my arm; a cab, message
To our coachman. a timely train to Baker
street another cab, and we were at the
British museum-brisk PEDESTRIANS now
not very many minutes after the OPEN
ing hour of 10 a. m.
1t was one of those glowing days
which will not be forgotten by many
who were in town at the time. The Dia-
mond Jubilee was upon us, the Queen $
weather had already set in. Raffles, in
deed, declared it was as hot as Italy
and Australia put together; and certain
Nv the short summer nights gave the
Nd halt nd ha