Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-23

very different cause \ new tan=le OF
emotions tied my tongue. Raiiies had
failed. Rallies had failed. Could | not
succeed: Was it too late: Was there
no way?
$50 long" he said. taking a last look
at the canvas before he rolled it up
so long till we get to Brisbane"
The tiutter 1 was in as he closed the
case,
For the last time" he went on IA
his keys jingled back into his pocket.
1t goes straight into the strong room
on board
For the last time. II | could but
send him out to Australia with only its
legitimate contents in his precious
map case, If / could but succeed
where RatIles had failed,
We returned TO the other room. I
have no notion how long he talked or
what about. Whisky and soda water
became the order of the hour | scarce
~ touched ii. but he drank copiously,
and before IL l left him incoherent.
And the laSS train for ESher was the
1l:50 out of Waterloo.
l took a hanson to my rooms.
was back at the hotel in thirteen min
utes. l walked upstairs. The CORR
dor was empty. l stood an instant on
the sitting room threshold. heard Il
Snore within and admitted myself
softly with my sentleman's own key.
which ii had been very simple matter
to take away with me.
CraggS never moved. He was
stretched on the sofa fast asleep. but
not fast enough for me- l saturated
my handkerchief with the chloroform
L had brought ana laid it gently over
his mouth. Two or three stertorous
breaths, and the man was log.
removed the handkerchief l ex-
tracted the keys from his pocket. In
less than five minutes l put them back
after winding the picsare about my
body beneath my Inverness cape
took some whisky and soda water be-
fore l went.
The train was easily caught-so
easily that | trembled for ten minutes
in my first class smoking carriage. in
terror Of every footstep on the plat
form. i'll unreasonable terror till the
end. Then ut last l sat back and lit
cigarette, and the lights of Waterloo
reeled out behind.
Some men We're returning from the
theater. l can recall their conversa-
ton even now. They were disappoint-
ell with the piece they had seen. 1t
was one of the later Savoy operas, and
they spoke wistfully of the days OF
''Pinafore" and Patience" One OF
them hummed Il stave, and there was
an argument as TO whether the air was
out of Patience" or The Mikado"
They all got out ut Surbiton, and l was
alone with my triumph for few in
toXicating minutes. TO think that
had succeeded where Rallies had
failed. OF all our adventures this was
the first IN which had played IA com
handing part, and of them all this
was infinitely the least discreditabIe.
1t left me without conscientious
qualm. / had but robbed IL robber
when all was said. And had done it
myself. single handcd-ipse egomct,
l pictured Rafiles, his surprise and
delight. He would think n little more
of me in future. And that future-it
should he different. We had $1,000
apiece-surely enough TO start afresh
as honest men-and all through me,
In glow | sprang out at Esher and
took the one belatcd cab that was
waiting under the bridge. In n per-
feet fever l beheld Broom Hall. with
the lower story still lit up. and saw the
front door open as l climbed the steps.
Thought it was you said Rallies
cheerily. ITS all right There's u
bed for you. Sir Bernard's sitting up
to shake your hand
His good spirits disappointed me.
But / knew the man. He was one of