The San Francisco call., 1905-08-27

ton OF the eyes, due to long
exposure 10 the glare out there, and
necessitating the use Of clouded specta-
cies in the open air. He had not the rich
complexion OF the typical colonist, being.
indeed, particularly pale. but it appeared
that he had been confined to his berth
for the greater part of the voyage, while
his prematurely gray hair was sufficient
proof that the rigors OF bush life had at
last undermined an originally tough con-
stitution- Our lanolady, who spoiled my
brother from the first, was much con-
cerned on his behalf and wished to call in
the local doctor. but Ralph said dreadful
things about the profession and quite
frightened the good woman by arbitrarily
foThiddinG her to ever let doctor inside
hSx door. I had TO apologize TO her for
the painful prejudices and violent Ian
ruage Of "these eolonisa," but the old
sou VIA easily modified. She had fallen
IN love with my brother at first sight,
and shs never could DO too much for him.
Il w1s owing to our landlady that took
90 calling him Ralph. for the first time
in our lives, on her beginning to speak
Of and 20 him as ''Mr. Raffies."
This won't oo," said he to me. ITS
name that sticks
1T must be my fault. She must have
heard It from me-" said I, self-reproach-
fully.
you must tell her It's the short for
Ralph"
But it's longer"
It's the short" said he, and you've
got to tell her So"
I 1rd
Ralph his likes and his dislikes, what
he would fancy and what he would not,
and. oh. what dear gentleman he was,
that I often remembered TO say, Ralph,
old chap" myself
it was an ideal cottage, as I said when
I found it, and in it our delicate man be-
came rapidly robust. Not that the air
was also ideal. for when it was not ram
ing We had the same faithful mist from
November to March. But it was some
thing TO Ralph to get any air at all other
than night air, and the bicycle oid the
est Ne taught ourselves, and may L
never forget our earlier rides through
md through Richmond Park when the
afternoons were shortest upon the ineom-
tarabie Ripley road when we gave day
10 il Rafies rode a Beeston Humber; a
Royal Sunbeam was good enough for me.
But he insisted on our both having Dun
lop tires.
They seem the most popular brand.
I had my eye on the road all the way
from Ripley to Gotham, and there were
more Dunlop marks than any other
kind Bless you, yes, they all leave
their special tracks. and we don't want
ours to be extra special; the Dunlop
like a rattIesnake, and the Palmer
leaves telegraph wires. but surely the
serpent is more in our line
That was the winter when there were
so many burglaries in the Thames VAL
ley from Richmond upward. 1t was
said that the thieves used bicycles in
every case, but what is not said2 They
were sometimes on foot, to my knowl-
A edge, and we took a great interest In
Athe series, or, rather. sequence, Of sue
cessful crimes. Raf1es would often get
his devoted old lady to read him the
latest local accounts, while 1 was busy
with my writing (much 1 wrote) in my
own room. We even rode out by night
ourselves TO see il we could not get on
tho tracks OF the thieves. and never did
va fail to find hot coffee on the hob
upon our feet Also. the misty nights
,1tsht have been made for the thieves,
But their success was not so consistent
ana never 80 enormous as people said,
especially the sufferers, who lost more
valuables than they had ever been
known TO possess. Failure was often
the caitiffs' portion, and disaster once;
owing, ironically enough, TO that very
mist which should have served them.
But 1 am going TO tell the story with
some particularity, and perhaps some
gusto, you will see why who read.
The right house stood on high ground
near the river, with quite drive Tin at
one gate and out at the other) sweep
ing past the steps. Between the two
gates was half-moon Of shrubs, 20
the left of the steps conservatory,
and TO their right the walk leading to
the tradesmen's entrance and the back
premises; here also was the pantry win
dow. Of which more anon. The right
house was the residence OF an opulent
stock broker who wore d heavy watch
chain and seemed fair game There
,vould have been two objections to 1T
had been the stock broker. The house
was one OF a row, though goodly row.
and an army-crammer had established
himself next door. There is type OF
such Institutions in the suburbs, the
youths 20 about in knickeroockers
smoking pipes, except on SATURDAY
nights, when they lead each other home
from the last train. 1t was none OF
our business TO spy upon these boys
but their manners and customs fell
within the field OF observation And
we did not choose the night upon which
the whole row was likely to be kept
awake.
The night that we did choose was as
misty as even the Thames Valley is
capable OF making them. Raf1es
smeared vaseline upon the plated parts
OF his Bceston Humber before starting.
and our dear landlady cosseted US both
and prayed we might see nothing Of
the nasty burglars, not denying as the
reward would be very handy to them
that 'oOf IL TO say nothing of the honor