Omaha daily bee., 1905-05-14

by an iron curtain, the very sight of which
filled me with despair Raffles, however, did
not appear in the least depressed, but hung
up his coat and hat on some pegs in the
lobby before examining this curtain with
his lantern.
That's nothing" said he, after a min
ute's inspection; well be through that
in no time, but there's door on the other
side which may give us trouble"
Another door! 1 groaned. And how
do you mean to tackle this thing?
Prise 1t up with the jointed jimmy. The
weak point of these iron curtains is the
leverage you can get from below. But it
makes a noise, and this is where you re
coming in, Bunny; this is where 1 couldn't
do without you. I must have you overhead
to knock through when the streets clear.
I'll come with you and show a light"
Well, you may imagine how little 1 liked
the prospect of this lonely vigil; and yet
there was something very stimulating in
the vital responsibility which it involved
Hitherto had been a mere spectator. Now
/ was to take part in the game And the
fresh excitement made me more than ever
insensible to those considerations Of con-
science and of safety which were already
as dead nerves in my breast
SO I took my post without murmur In
the front room above the shop. The fix
lures had been left for the refusal of tho
incoming tenant, and fortunately for us
they included Venetian blinds which were
already down 1t was the simplest matter
In the world to stand peeping through the
laths into the street, to beat twice with my
foot when anybody was approaching, and
once when all was clear again. The noises
hot 4 h,1n x.ylt 1, tI,n
ception of one metallic crash. at the begin
ming, were indeed incredibly slight; but
they ceased altogether at each double rap
from my toe: and a policeman passed quite
half dozen times beneath my eyes, and
the man whom took to be the jeweller' s
watchman oftener still, during the better
part of an hour that l spent at the window.
Once, indeed, my heart was In my mouth,
but only once. 1t was when the Waterman
stopped and peered through the peep-hole
into the lighted shop. l waited for his
whistle Il waited for the gallows or the
gaol But my signals had been studiousIy
obeyed. and the man passed on in undls-
turbed serenity. In the end had a signal
in my turn, and retraced my steps with
lighted matches, down the broad stairs,
down the narrow ones, across the area,
and up into the lobby where Rafies awaited
me Win al OulStTlCneu HdHO.
well done. my boyl" said he. You're
the same good man in a pinch, and you
shall have your reward. I've got a 1000
worth If I've got penn'oth. It's all in my
pockets. And here's something else /
found in this locker; very decent port and
some cigars, meant for poor, dear Dandy s
business friends. Take a pull and you shall
light us presently. I've found lavatory,
too and we must have a wash-and brush
up before we go, for I'm black as your
boot"
The iron curtain was down, but he in.
sisted on raising it until l could peep
through the glass door on the other side
and see his handiwork in the shop beyond
Here two electric lights were left burning
all night long, and in their cold white
rays 1 could at first see nothing amiss.
looked along an orderly lane, an empty
glass counter on my left. glass oupboards
OF untouched silver on my right and facing
me the filmy black eye of the peephole
that shone like stage moon on the street
The counter had not been emptied by
Raffies; its contents were in the chubb's
safe, which he had given up at a glance
nor had he looked at the silver, except tc
choose a cigarette case for me. He had
confined himself entirely to the stVop win.
dow. This was in three compartments
each secured for the night by removable
panels with separate locks. Raffies had
removed them a few hours before theIi
time, and the electric light shone on d
corrugated shutter bare as the ribs OF ar
empty carcass. Every article of value wal
gone from the one place which was invisi
ble from the little window In the door
elsewhere all was as It had been lef
overnight. And but for train OF man.
gled doors behind the iron curtain. a bottle
OF wine and cigar box with which liber.
ties had been taken, a rather black towe
In the lavatory, burnt match here and
there. ana our finger marks on the dusty