The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-08

been in bottle eighty years. as happen
10 know 1t would be pity to run
the risk of spelling it in the decanting.
You are much to mercurial for the job.
My hand is particularly steady-you
rout out the empty bottles and bring
theTn''
In moment bottle was thrust into
his hand. He turned evenly toward the
light and slowly elevated the bottle
between his eye and the gas jet. Hold
Ing 1T by the neck. he very slowly and
steadily tilted the magnum till its lip
clinked on the lip of the smaller bottle.
and the precious liquid began to trickle
from one to the other. In this position,
IL the great green stone came rolling
toward the mouth of the magnums he
would probably be able to see it
through the dark glass of the neck,
where both glass and wine were thin
ner.
Slowly and steadily the green wine
rose In the small bottle till it reached
The neck. Crook ceased pouring, and
held 1t out. Another bottiei" he de-
manded, keeping the magnum still
tilted in the air. Cork that one care
fully--don't shake it!''
second bottle was thrust into his
left hand, and again he began to pour.
slowly and warily. Nothing chinked
in the pagnum nothing came sliding
free flow of the wine. Probably it
would not till the magnum was nearly
emptied. So the second bottle was
filed.
'.Anotheri" cried Crook. .eThis will
about empty it, think. There should
be a trile under half gallon
And still he kept his eye fixed on the
dim light that came through the neck
OF the magnum.
The wine rose gradually in the third
bottle, and when it was about half full
Crook cast his eye back along the mag
mum. At this angle, he judged, the
jewel must come rolling forward now
If it were there at all. Still, he would
rather it kept back till the bottle could
be emptied Higher and higher it
went, and higher the wine rose I'M the
small bottle, till at last the dregs ran
out, and the third bottle was full. The
thing was settled; the Eye of Goona
was not there.
Here you are. remarked Crook.
calmly; that's the lot. Mark that
third hottle-you must let it stand
longer than the others. I'm. afraid I
poured a trife too far, and there's sed-
iment in it. Now select your varied
poisons."
The young men turned to the cup
board, and Crook took the occasion to
make assurance doubly sure. He up
ended the empty magnum on his palm
and shook it, then lifted it to the light
and shook 1t once more. There was no
doubt of 1t; no diamond was there.
Come" cried Jack Knowles, inpa
tiently, we've wasted too much time
already-we mustn't bother too much
about what goes into the empty bot
tie; that would be pampering Charley
and running risks ourselves This is
vinegar, anyhow, by the label. All
here is spoonful of mustard and
some rum. There are plenty of other
liquids here. and we'll leave the rest to
luck-Charleys luck is always won-
derful. In it all goes. Thoughtful OF
him to provide funnel, wasn't it?"
In it all went, indeed and the old
cork was forced down over the hor-
rible mixture, After which the seal
was carefully replaced and melted
down at the cut edges with a match
And now,' said Jack Knowles, when
the magnum had been replaced where
it had been found, eve will away. We
did think of standing his lay figure
against the police station and getting
it locked up as drunk and incapable,
but we mustn't disturb anything now
that would arouse unworthy suspi-
cions. We will away, and do our
awaying without a moments delay.
Up through the skylight. Sewell
Quick. before turn out the light
They left the studio as they had en-
tered 1T, one at time through the
window, and Jack Knowles, coming
last, handed out the three bnttles with
loving care. Then the skylight was
shut down and they all stood in the
open lane. -Si
Beautiful arrangement, those sky
lights" commented jack Knowles.
Perfect dispensation of Providence
for a burglar. Easy to get at, and
nothing to hold 'em down but the brass
0pfVa h oh nrlo ct ono
Some day ~he will positively be rob-
bed."
Crook, having ascertained the direc-
ton in which the others were going.
instantly discovered that he must go
the opposite way. And SO he waited
in the dark little way beyond the
elrns, while the two young fellows went
off laughing toward the town.
Lucky they never thought of ask
ing my name" he thought to himself.
We'll. here's an end to the prospects
of that magnuIn, at any rate, so far as
I'm concerned. But there's no reason
why 1t shouldn't occupy Hahns atten-
ton for a bit longer-it would give me
a start for the next. l think I'll see
that auctioneer's clerk again before
go to bed"
So that as soon as the two friends
were quite out of sight and hearing hs
set off for Waterview Terrace FIe
found it to be row of neat little
houses with gardens in front, and he
was saved any trouble in making 4.
quest for No. IA by observing Symons.
in his shirtsleeves, with a lantern, in
dustriously hunting for snails in his
garden.
@Oh, you, is it, sir?" said Symons.
when he had ascertained his visitors
identity. I'm on a snail hunt; 1 never
knew EN- so early as they are this
year, and the only way to keep 'em
down is to go for 'em after dark. What
is it now?"
(To Be Continued Next Sunday)