The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-21

so then and there.
Well | said. Il don't see the ne
cessity as things are with us, but OF
course, I'm your man."
My tone may have been half-hearted.
! did my best 10 make it otherwise.
But it was barely a month since our
Bond street exploit. and we certainly
could have afforded to behave our
selves for some time to come. We
had been getting along so nicely, by
his advice l had scrubbed a thing or
two inspired by Raftlos ] had even
done an article on our own jewel rob
berry: and for the moment l was quite
satisfied with this sort of adventure.
| thought we ought to know when we
were well off and could see no point
in our running fresh risks before we
were obliged. On the other hand, I
was anxious not to show the least
disposition to break the pledge that
had given month ago. But it was
not on my manifest disinclination that
Raf1es fastened.
Necessity, my dear Bunny? Does
the writer only write when the wolf
is al the door Does the painter paint
for bread alone2 Must you and | be
driven to crime like Tom of Bow and
Dick of Whitechapel? You pain me,
my dear chap; you needn't laugh, be-
cause you do Art for arts sake is
vile catchword. but ] confess it APP
peals to me. In this case my motives
are absolutely pure for doubt if we
shall ever be able to dispose of such
peculiar stones. But if / don't have a
try for them-after tonight shall
never be able to hold up my head
again"
His eye twinkled. but IT glittered,
too.
1--WE shall have our work cut out"
was all | said
''And do you suppose | should be
keen on 1t If We hadn't?" cried Raj
fes. MY dear fellow. I would rob
St Paurs Cathedral if I could, but |
could no more scoop a till when the
shop walker wasn't looking than |
could bag the apples out OF an old
womans basket. Even that little busi-
ness last month was a sordid affair
but it was necessary, and ! think its
strategy redeemed it to some extent
Now there's some credit and more
sport in going where they boast
they're on their guard against YOU.
The Bank of England. for example, is
the ideal crib; but that would need
half dozen of MS with years to give
to the job. and meanwhile Reuben
Rosenthall Is high enough game for
you and me. We know he's armed.
, We know how Billy Purvis can fight.
It'll be no sole thing, grant you.
But what of that my good Bunny
what OF that? A mans reach must
exceed his grasp dear boy, or what
the dickens Is a heaven for?'
II would rather we didn't exceed
ours lust vet" | answered. laughing,
for his spirit was Irresistible, and the
plan was growing upon me, despite my
qualms.
Trust me for that" was his reply;
"Tll see you through. After all, | ex-
pect to find that the difficulties are
nearly all on the surface. These fell
lows both drink like the devil and that
should simplify matters considerably
But we shall see, and we must take
our time. There will probably turn
out to be a dozen different ways in
which the thing might be done. and
we shall have to choose between them.
1t will mean watching the house for
al least a week i'm any case; 1t may
mean lots of other things that will
take much longer; but give me week
and ! will tell you more. That's to
say If you're really on"
"Of course | am" ! replied indig-
nantly. "Bnt why should / give you
week? Why shouldn't we watch the
house together?'
Because two eyes are as good as
four and take up less room. Never
hunt in couples unless you're obliged.
But don't you look offended. Bunny;
therell be plenty for you to do when
the time comes. that I promise you
You shall have your share of the fun,
never fear, and a purple diamond all
to yourself-if we're lucky"
On the whole, however, this CONVEX
laft lt1l GUN
and | still remember the depression
which came upon me when Raffles
was gone / saw the folly of the en-
terprise to which | had committed
myself-the sheer, gratuitous, unnec-
essary folly of 1t. And the paradoXes
in which Raffles revelled and the friv-
olous casuistry which was neverthe-
less half sincere. and which his mere
personality rendered wholly plausible
at the moment of utterance. appealed
very little to me when recalled in cold
blood | admired the spirit of pure
mischief in which he seemed prepared
to risk his liberty and his life but |
did not find ii an infectious spirit on
calm reflection. Yet the thought of
withdrawal was not to be entertained
for a moment. On the contrary, / was
impatient of the delay ordained by
Raffles, and perhaps, no small part
of my secret disaffection came of his
calling determination to do without
me until the last moment.
1t made 1t no better that this was
characteristic of the man and of his
attitude toward me. For a month we
had been, | suppose, the thickest
thieves In all London. and yet our in
timacy was curiously incomplete. With
all his charming frankness, there was
in Raffes a vein of capricious reserve
which was pereeptible enough to be
very irritating He had the instinct
i've secretiveness Of the inveterate
criminal He would make mysteries
of matters of common concern; for