The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-06

no way?
SO long, he said, taking last look
at the canvas before he rolled it I'm.
so long till we get to Brisbane"
1he hutter was in as he closed the
case.
For the last time" he went ON as
MS keys jingled back into his pocket
1t goes straight into the strong room
on board"
For the last time! If | could but
send him out to Australia with only its
legitimate contents in his precious
map case! If l could but succeed
where Ratiles had failed!
We returned to the other room. I
have no notion how long he talked o,.
what about Whisky and soda water
became the order of the hour. scarce.
" touched it, but he drank copiousIv.
and before II | left him incoherent
And the last train for Esher was the
ll:5o ont of Waterloo.
l took hanson to my rooms. |
was back at the hotel in thirteen min
uteS, l walked upstairs. The corri-
dor was empty. l stood an instant on
the sitting room threshold heard 4
snore within and admitted myself
softly W.,h my gentleman's own key
which it had been Il 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. saturated
my handkerchief with the chloroform
| had brought and laid it gently over
ms mouth. Two or three stertorous
Dreaths. and the man was a log.
l removed the handkerchief. ex-
tfacted the keys from his pocket. liz
less than five minutes put them back
after winding the picture about my
body beneath my Inverness cane. I
took some whisky and soda water be-
fore | 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, in unreasonable terror till the
end. Then at last | sat back and lit
a cigarette, and the lights Of Waterloo
reeled out behind
Some men We're returning from the
theater. | can recall their conversa-
ton even now. They were disappoint
ed with the piece they had seen. Ii
was one of the later Savoy operas, and
they spoke wistfully of the days OF
'Pinafore" and patience" One of
them hummed stave, and there was
an argument as to whether the air was
out of Patience" or THE Mikado."
They all got out at Surbiton, and was
alone with my triumph for few in
toXicating minutes. To think that |
had succeeded where Raffles had
failed! OF all our adventures this was
the first in which l had played a COM
handing part and of them all this
was Infinitely the least discreditable.
1t left me without conscientious
qualm. / had but robbed a robber
when all was said. And had done it
myself, single handed-ipse egomet!
l pictured Raflles. his surprise and
delight, He would think a little more
of me in future And that future-it
should be different. We had $4,000
apiece-surely enough to start afresh
as honest men-and all through me!
In glow l sprang out at Esher and
took the one belated cab that was
waiting under the bridge In a per
feet fever / 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 Raffies
cheerily. ITS all right There's a
bed for you. Sir Bernard's sitting W
to shake your hand"
His good spirits disappointed me
But l knew the man. He was one OF