The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-15

There he took an Atlas omnibus, and
| sat some rows behind him on the
top, but not far enough to escape the
pest of his vile tobacco That he could
carry his character sketch 10 such 4
pitch-he who would only smoke one
brand of cigarettes 1t was the last,
least touch of the Unsuitable artist, and
it charmed away what modification
there still remained in me. Once more
| felt the fascination of comrade
who was forever dazzling one with
fresh and unsupported facet of his
character
AS we neared Piccadilly wondered
what he would do Surely he was not
going into the Albany like that? No,
he took another omnibus to Sloane
street | sitting behind him. as before.
At Sloane street we changed again,
and were presently in the long lean
artery of the Kings road. was now
all agog to know our destination, nor
was | kept many more minutes in
doubt Rafiles got down. followed.
He crossed the road and disappeared
up a dark turning. | pressed after
him and was in time 10 see his coat
tails as he plunged into still darker
tagged alley to the right He was
holding himself up and stepping out
like a Young man once more; also, in
some subtle way. he already locked
less diSreputable But | alone was
there to see him-the alley was absO-
lutely deserted and desperately dark.
At the farther end he opened a door
with a latchkey. and 1t was darker
yet within.
Instinctively | drew back and heard
him chuckle. We could no longer see
each other.
All right. Bunny. There's no hanky
panky this time These are studios.
my friend, and I'm one of the lawful
tenants"
Indeed. in another minute we were
in lofty room with skylight, easels,
dressing cupboard platform and every
other adjunct save the signs Of actual
labor The first thing saw. as Raj
fies lit the gas. was its reflection in his
silk hat on the pegs beside the rest of
his normal garments.
Looking for the works of art?" con-
tinued Rallies. lighting 4 cigarette and
beginning TO divest himself Of his
rags. I'm afraid you won't find any,
but there's the canvas I'm always GO
ing to make start upon. | tell them
I'm looking high and low for my ideal
model. I have the stove lit on prin-
ciple twice week. and look in and
leave n newspaper and Il smell Of Sui
livans-how good they are after shagl
Meanwhile l pay my rent and am a
good tenant in every way. and it's a
very useful little pied-a-terre. There's
no saying how useful it might be at q
pinch. AS it is, the billycock comes in
and the topped goes out. and nobody
takes the slightest notice of either. At
this time of night the chances are that
there's not 4 soul in the building ex-
cept ourselves
You never told me you went in for
DISCUSSES said |. watching him as he
cleaned the CRIME from his face and
hands
NO, Bunny, I've treated you very
shabbily all around There was really
no reason why | shouldn't have shown
you this place a month ago. and yet
there was no point in my doing so, and
circumstances are just conceivable in
which it would have suited us both for
you TO be in genuine ignorance of my
whereabouts. have something to
sleep on, as you perceive, in case of
need, and of course my name is not
Raffies in the Kings road. So you will
see that one might bolt farther and
fare worse"
Meanwhile you use the place as a
dressing room:"
ITS my private pavilion" said Raj
feS. "DiSguiSes? In some cases they
are half the battle, and it's always
pleasant to feel that if the worst comes
TO the worst you needn't necessarily
be convicted under your own name.
Then they're indispensable in dealing
with the fences. | drive all my bar
gains in the tongue and raiment of
Shoreditch. If didn't there'd be the
very devil to pay in blackmail. Now,
this cupboard's full of all sorts of tog-
gerry. | tell the woman who cleans
the room that it's for my models when
find 'em. BY the way, l only hope
I've got something that'n fit you. for
you'll want rig for tomorrow night"
Tomorrow nightw exclaimed.
'Why, what do you mean to do?"
The trick" said Raffles. Il intend
ed writing TO you as soon as l got back
to my rooms TO ask you to look me
up tomorrow afternoon Then | was
going to unfold my plan of campaign
and take you straight into action then
and there. There's nothing like put
ting the nervous players in first. It's
the sitting with their pads on that up
sets their apple cart. That was anoth-
er of my reasons for being so confound-
eddy close. You must try to forgive
me. | couldn't help remembering how
we'll you played up last trip, without
any time to weaken on it beforehand
All want is for you to be as cool and
smart tomorrow night as you were
then; though, by Jove, there's no COM
pariSon between the two caseSr'
Il thought you would find it So"
you were right. l have. Mind you,
l don't say this will be the tougher job
all round We shall probably get in