The San Francisco call., 1905-06-11
Na@G


calling them in and giving me in charge
without delay. Rosenthall would not hear
of it. He swore that he would shoot man
or woman who lefs his sight He had
had enough of the police He was not
going to have them coming there to spoil
sport: he was going to deal with me in
MS own way With that he dragged me
from all other hands. flung me against a
door. and sent bullet crashing through
the wood within an inch OF my ear.
You drunken fool. It'll be murderr"
shouted Purvis. getting in the way Sec
ond tine.
Wha' do care? He's armed, isn't he?
L shot him in self-defense. It'll be a
warning to others. VIII you stand aside.
or dye want 1t yourself?"
You're drunk" said Purvis still be-
tween U.s. II saw you take neat tunl-
plerful since you came in. and it's made
you drunk as fool. Pull yourself to-
gether, old man. You amt a-going to do
what you'll be sorry for"
Then l won't shoot at him. I'll only
shoot roun' an roun' the beggar. You're
quite right. ole feller. Wouldn't hurt him
Great mishtake. Roun' an roun'. There
like thatl'
His freckled paw shot up over Purvis'
shoulder, mauve lightning came from his
rlns' red flash from his revolver, and
shrieks from the women as the reverbera-
tions died away Some splinters lodged
In my hair
Next instant the prizefghter disarrned
him; and 1 was safe from the devil. but
hnally doomed to the deep sea. A police
man was in our midst He had entered
through the drawing-room window; he was
an officer Of few words and credttable
promptitude. In a twinkling he had the
handcuffs on my wrists. while the pugi-
list explained the situation. A fine watch
they kept; lot of good they did; coming
In when all was over and the whole
household might have been murdered In
their sleep. The officer only deigned to
notice him as he marched me off.
I'VE know all about you. sir" said he
contemptuously. and he refused the SOW
ereign Purvis offered. You will be see
ing me again. sir. at Marylebone"
Shall I come now?"
"As you please. sir. 1 rather think the
1 don't fancy this young man means to
give much trouble"
"Oh, I'm coming quietly I said.
And went.
In silence we traversed perhaps
hundred yards. 1t must have been
midnight. We did not meet a soul At
last 1 whispered:
How on earth did you manage tt7"
Purely by luck" said Raff1es. II
had the luck to get clear away through
knowing every brick of those back
garden walls, and the double luck to
have these togs with the rest over at
Chelsea The helmet is one of a COL
lection I made up at Oxford; here it
goes over this wall. and we'd better
carry the coat and belt before We meet
a real officer 1 got them once for a
fancy ball-ostensibly-and thereby
hangs a yarn 1 always. thought they
might come in useful a second time
My chief crux tonight was getting rid
of the hanson that brought me back.
/ sent him off to Scotland Yard with
ten bob and special message to good
old Mackenzie The whole detective
de- rtment will be at RosenthalFs in
about half an hour. OF course, I spec
ulated on our gentIeman's hatred of
the police-another huge slice of luck.
II you'd got away. well and good; TX
not, I felt he was the man to play with
the mouse as long as possible-s Yes.
Bunny, it's been more of costume piece
than 1 intended. and we've come out OF
it with a good deal less credit. But.
by Jove. we're jolly lucky to have come
out of 1t at allp'