The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-14

Goals on the fire before turning down
the gas like careful householder.
So we went out together as the clock
on the chimney piece was striking
two.
Piccadilly was a trench of raw,
white fog, trimmed with blurred street
lamps and lined with thin coating of
adhesive mud. We met no other way
farers on the deserated flagstones and
were ourselves favored with a very
hard share from the constable of the
beat, who however, touched his he'll
met on recognizing my companion.
s.You see. I'm known to the police,
laughed Raffles as we passed on
Poor devils, they'e got to keep their
weather eye open on night like this
A fog may be bore TO you and me
Bunny, but it's a perfect Godsend
to the criminal classes, especially so
late in the season. Here We are
thouRh-and I'm hanged If the beggar
isn't in bed and asleep after all.
We had turned into Bond street and
had halted on the curb few yards
down on the right. Raffes was gazing
up at some windows across the road,
windows barely dscernible through
the mist and without a glimmer of
light to throw them GU. They were
over a jewelers. shop, as ] could see
by the peep hole in the shop door and
the bright light burning within. But
the entire upper part" with the pri-
vate 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 enoughw
mot a bit of it said Rafhes. Il
have his key. Well surprise him.
Come along"
And Selling my right arm, he hurried
me across the road. opened the door
with his latch key and in another
moment had shut it 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; and
as it drew nearer, my comrades hng-
gers frightened on my arm.
ut may be the chap himself he
WHISPERED. Hes the devil of night
bird. Not sound Bunny Well
startle the life out OF him. Abr
The measured step had passed with
out apause. Rafnes drew deep
breath and his singular grip OF me
slowly relaxed
But. still not a sound ne cohllhuco
in the same whisper. we II take
rise out of him, wherever he IS! sip OH
your shoes and follow me-
well YOU may wonder at my doing
40. but YOU can never have met A.
7 Raffes Half his power lay in
conciliating trick of sinking the com
mander In the leader. And 1t was I'M
nossible not TO follow one who LED
with such a zest. You might question
but YOU followed first. So now when
I head him kick off his own SHOES
did the same, and was on the stairs
at his heels before l. realized what an
extraordinary way was this or APP
preaching a stranger for money in the
dead of night. But obviously Rafhes
and he were on exceptional terms OF
intimacy and I could not but infer
that they were Ia the habit of playing
practical jokes upon each other.
We grouped our way slowly upstairs
that ] had time to make more than
one not before we reached the top.
The stair was unexpected Inc spread
fingers. of my right hand encountered
nothing on the damp wall those of
nv left hand trailed through dust that
could be felt on the bannisters. An
eerie sensation had been upon me
since we entered the house. 1t in
creased with every step we climbed.
what hermit were we going to startie
in his cell
We came to landing. The banns-
ter led us to the left, and to the left
again. -Four steps more and we were
on another and longer landing. and
suddenly a match bla2ed from the
black. I never heard 1t struck. Its
flash was binding. When my eyes be-
IN In 1ftrlaf
was Raffies holding up the match
with one hand and shading it with the
other between the bare boards, strip
ped walls and the open doors of empty
rooms.
"Where have you brought me?" l
cried 1.-The house Is unoccupiedW
flush! Watt" he whispered and he
led the way into one Of the empty
rooms His match went out as we
crossed the threshold and he struck
another without the slightest noise.
then he stood with his back TO me
fumbling with something that I could
not see. But when he threw the Sc
cond match away, there was another
light in Its stead and a slight smell
of oil. l stopper forward to look over
his shoulder, but before / could do so
he turred and flashed tiny lantern
In my face.
"What's this?" I gasped. what
rotten trick are you going to play?"
"Its played" he answered with his
quiet laugh
ION me?"
I'm afraid so Bunny
us there no one in the house,
them"
mo one but ourselves.
80 1t was mere chaff about your
frfap1 in T2nnd who pOUld let
us have that money!