The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-15
| Raffles,
S. Me Amateur
INI22| CraCkSfnan
J XNl4 AHtleI " By Z. w. HoRNUNC
By E. w. HoRNUNG

and there
Well" J said. II 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 . month since our
Bond street exploit, and we certainly
could have afforded 10 behave our
selves fer some time to come We had
been getting along so nicely; by his al
vice / had scrubbed thing or two;
inspired by Rallies. had even done an
article on our own jewel robbery, and
for the moment ! was quite satisfied
with this sort of adventure. thought
we ought to know when we We're well
of and could see no point in our run
ming fresh risks before we We're
obliged. on the other hand. was anx-
lous not to show the least disposition
10 break the pledge that had given a
month ago. But it was not on my
manifest dissemination that Raf5eS
fastened
Necessity. my dear Bunny? Does
the writer only write when the wolf
is at the door? Does the painter paint
for bread alone: Must you and l be
driven 10 crime ike Tom of Bow and
DICK Of Whtechapel: You pain me
my dear chap You needn't laugh. be
cause you do Art FOR arts sake is a
vile catchword. but confess It APP
pealS 70 me. In this case ny motives
are absolutely pure. for ! doubt il 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 twiukled. but it glittered
too.
We shall have our work cut out"
was all said.
And do you suppose I should be
keen on it if we hadn't" cried Raffies.
My dear fellow. l would rob St Paurs
cathedral if l could. but l could no
more scoop a till when the shopwalker
wasn't looking than | could bag the
apples out of an old womau's basket.
Even that little business last month
was q sordid affair, but it was neceS-
sary. and think its strategy redeem.
ed 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 Eng
land. for example is the ideal crib.
but that would need half 4 dozen of us
with years To give TO the job. and
meanwhile Reuben ROsenthall is high
enough game for YOU and me We
know hes armed We know how Billy
PurviS can fight lt'll he no soft thing,
grant you But what of that. my
good Bunny-what of that: \ mans
reach must exceed his grasp. dear boy.
or what the dickens is a heaven for:"
Il would rather we didn't exceed
ours just yet" l answered. laughing.
for his spirit was irresistible and the
plan was growing upon me despite my
qualms.
Trust me for that" was his reply,
I'll see you through After all. ex-
pect 10 find that the difficulties are
nearly all on the surface These fell
lows 10th drink like the devil and
that should simplify matters consid-
erably. But we shall see. and we must
take our time. There will probably
turn out to be 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
at least week in 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 l am" I replied indig-
nantly, but why should | give you a
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;
there'll be plenty for you to do when
the time comes; that promise you.
You shall have your share of the fun.
never fear, and Il purple diamond all
10 yourSeif-if were lucky"
On the whole however. this CONVEX.
sation left ne less than lukewarm. and
l still remember the depression which
came upon me when Rallies was gone.
| saw the folly Of the enterprise TO
which had committed mySelf-the
sheer. gratuitous, unnecessary folly of
it. And the paradoXes in which RAT
nes reveled and the frivolous caSuis-
try which was nevertheless half sin
cere and which his mere personality
rendered wholly plausible at the mo-
ment of utterance appealed very little