The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-08

stimulating in the vital responsibility
which it involved. Hitherto had been
mere spectator. Now | was to take
part in the game. And the fresh ex-
element made me more than ever in
sensible to those considerations of con
science and of safety which were al
ready us dead nerves in my breast
So took my post without a murmur
In the front room above the shop. The
fixtures had been left for the refusal
of the incoming tenant. and fortunate
ly for us they included Venetian
blinds, which were already down. 1t
was the simplest matter in the world to
stand peeping through the laths into
the street, TO beat twice with my foot
when anybody was approaching and
once when all was clear again. The
noises that even | could hear below,
with the exception of one metallic
crash at the beginning, were indeed
incredibly slight, but they ceased alto
gether at each double rap from my toe,
and policeman passed quite half
dozen times beneath my eyes and the
man whom | took to he the jewelers.
Waterman oftener still during the bet
ter part of an hour that | spent at the
window. Once, indeed, my heart was in
my mouth, but only once. 1t was when
the Waterman stepped and peered
through the peephole into the lighted
shop. | waited for his whistle | wait
ed for the galows or the Jail. But my
signals had been studiously obeyed.
and the man passed on in undiSturbed
serenity. In the end had signal in
my turn ana retraced my steps with
lighted matches down the broad stairs,
down the narrow ones, across the area
and up into the lobby where Rallies
awaited me with an outstretched hand.
"Well done, my boy!" said he
You're the same good man in a pinch,
and you shall have your reward I've
got f1,000 worth if I've got penn 9th.
It's all in my pockets. And here's
something else found in this locker
very decent port and some cigars,
meant for poor, dear Danby's business
friends. Take pull, and you shall
light up presently. I've found a lava
tory, too. and we must have wash
and brush Up before we so, for I'm as
black as your boot"
The iron curtain was down, but he
insisted on raising it until could
peep through the glass door on the
other side and see his handiwork in
the shop beyond. Here two electric
lights were left burning all night long,
and in their cold white rays | could at
first see nothing amiss | looked along
an orderly lane, an empty glass coun-
ter on my left, glass cupboards of I'M
touched silver on my right and. facing
me, the fiimy black eye of the peep
hole that shone like stage moon on
the street. The counter had not been
emptied by Rallies. It's contents were
in the Chubb's safe, which he had CIV
en- up at a glance, Nor had he looked
rette case for me. He had confined
himself entirely to the shop window.
This was in three compartments, each
secured for the night by removable
panels with separate locks. Raffles
had removed them a few hours before
their time, and the electric light shone
on corrugated shutter bare as the
ribs of an empty carcass. Every ar
ticle of value was gone from the one
place which was invisible from the lit
tie window in the door. Elsewhere all
was as it had been left overnight. And
but for train of mangled doors be-
hind the iron curtain, bottle of wine
and cigar box with which liberties
had been taken, rather black towel
in the lavatory, burnt match here
and there and our finger marks on the
dusty bannisters not a trace of our
visit did we leave.
Had it in my head for longp said
Rallies as we strolled through the
streets toward dawn, for all the world
as though we were returning from a
dance. mo, Bunny, l never thought
of it till saw that upper part empty
about month ago and bought few
things in the shop to get the lay of the
land. That reminds me that l never
paid for them; but, by Jove, | will to-
morrow, and If that isn't poetic JUS
tice what is? One visit showed me
the possibilities of the place, but
second convinced me of its impossi-
bilities without pal. So | had prac-
tically given up the idea when you
came along on the very night and in
the very plight for it! But here we are
at the Albany, and l hope there's some
fire left, for l don't know how you
feel, Bunny, but for my part I'm as
cold as Keats OWL
He could think Of Keats on his way
from a felony He could banker for
his Preside like another. Flood gates
were loosed within me, and the plain
English of our adventure rushed over
me as cold as ice Raffles was a bur-
glar had helped him to commit
one burglary; therefore | was bur-
glar too. Yet | could stand and warm
myself by his fire and watch him
empty his pockets as though we had
done nothing wonderful or wicked.
My blood froze. My heart sickened.
My brain whirled. How | had liked
this villain, How had admired him!
How my liking and admiration must
turn to loathing and disgust! | waited
for the change. longed to feel it in
my heart But longed and waited
In vain.
I saw that he was emptying his
pockets. The table sparkled with their