The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-06
By E. W. HoRNUNd.


bo lone from the inside. Problem
oro how to get at the fellow. Only
" .ort of pretext would dot must
- something to do with this blessed
s;otrr, so that | might see where he'd
,,t IF and all that. Well, | couldn't go
e,d a., TO see it out of curiosity, and
TFcouMn't go as second representa-
tiro of the other old chap. and it was
thipI-iug how could go that made me
NH hear at lunch But | saw my
,rar before we got up. If l could only
law hold of copy of the picture l
might ask leave to go and compare it
with the original. SO down l went to
rsh.r 10 find out If there was copy
in existence and was at Broom Hail
for one hour and half yesterday aft
ornoon. There was no copy there, but
tbov must exist, for Sir Bernard him
self.there's copy thereD has allowed
c5uplc TO be made since the picture
I'm. been in his possession. He hunt
I'll fD the painters addresses, and the
resi- of the evening | spent in hunting
m the PAINTERS themselves, but their
v5.l. had been done on commission
One copy had gone out of the country
and I'm still on the track of the 9th
CT"
"Then You haven't seen Craggs YETI"
"Scen him and made friends with
him. ANA, if possible, he's the funnier
old ouss of the two; but you should
sHdy EN- both. l took the bull by
the horns this morning, went in and
lied like AnaniaS. and it was Just
as well l did. The old ruffian sails
for Australia by tomorrow's boat. l
told him a man wanted to sell me a
COPY of the celebrated Infanta Maria
Teresa of Velasquez; that I'd been
down TO the supposed owner of the
picture only to find that he had just
sold it TO him. You should have seen
his face when l told him that! He
grinned all round his wicked old head
Did old Debenham admit the sale?
saws he, and when | said he did he
chuckled to himself for about five
minutes. He was so pleased that he
did just what l hoped he would do,
he showed me the great picture-luck-
lily, it isn't by any means a large one
also the case he's got it in. It's an
iron map case, in which he brought
over the plans of his land in Bris-
bane. He wants to know who would
suspect it of containing an old mas
Dat hose hoI
new Chubb lock, and l managed to
take an interest in the key while he
was gloating over the canvas. l had
the wax in the palm Of my hand, and
l shall make my duplicate this after
noon"
Rafiles looked at his watch and
jumped up, saying he had given me
a minute too much
by the way" he added, you've
got to dine with him at the Metro.
pole tonight"
~"
Yes. Don't look so scared. Both
Of US are invited. l swore you were
dining with me. l accepted for us
1VAA4t bht SLeiA bC lhCAOs
His clear eye was upon me, bright
with meaning and with mischief. l
implOred him to tell me what his
meaning was.
You will dine in his private sitting
ROOM" said Rallies. ut adjoins his
bedroom. You must keep him sitting
as long as possible, Bunny, and talk
Ing all the timer
In fash saw his plan.
You're going for the picture while
we're at dinnerT
Il am"
IF he hears your
"He shan't."
But if he doesv'
And fairly trembled at the thought.
IF he does" said Raffies, there will
be a collision, that's all. Revolver
would be out Of place in the Metropole,
but | shall certainly take life pre-
server"
But it's ghastlyw l cried. ITO sit
and talk to an utter stranger and to
know that you're at work in the next
roOm!"
Two thousand apiece" said Raffies
quietly
Upon my soul, l believe 1 shall give
it awayr'
Not you, Bunny. / know you better
than you know yourself"
He put on his coat and his hat.
What tiDAn hnro I 10 bn tkapac1 I
asked him, with a groan.
Quarter 70 s. There win be a tele-
gram from me saying can't turn up.
He's terror to talk You'll have no
difficulty in keeping the ball rolling
But head him off his picture for all
you're worth If he offers to show ii
YOU say you must go. He locked up
ue case deliberately this afternoon, and
there's no earthly reason why he should
unlock it again ip III, IT,; lux! lTS7n sphere."
- nan every ti~yoa when | ge'
game 10 -the---s
u shall be down at Esher. | hope
to catch the 9:55."
But surely can see you again this
aIternoonF l cried in a ferment, fol
MS hand was on the door, I'm not
ualf coached up yet! l know l shall
make mess of it!'
Not YOU he said again, but shall
Il | waste any more time. I've got q
ueuce of lot of rushing about to dc
YET You won't find me at my rooms
why not come down to Esher your
SELF by the last train? That's it-down
you come with the latest news! III