News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-10-25
By E. w. HoRNUNG

| eltner garden anOrueu us auulIlOla
protection. Thus intrenched we had
stood an hour, watching pair of light
ed bow windows with vague shadows
fitting continually across the blinds
and listening to the drawing of corks
the clink of glasses and gradual cres-
cendo of coarse voices within. Our
luck seemed to have deserted us. The
owner of the purple diamonds was din
ing at home and dining at undue
length. thought it was a dinner par
ty. RafTles differed. In the end we
proved right. Wheels grated in the
drive, a carriage and pair stood at the
steps, there was stampede from the
dining room, and the loud voices died
away, to burst forth presently from
the porch.
Let me make our position perfectly
clear. We We're over the wall at the
side of the house, but a few feet from
the dining room windows. On our
right one angle of the building cut
the back lawn in two diagOnally; on
our left another angle just permitted
us to see the jutting steps and the wait
ing carriage. We saw ROSenthall come
out-saw the gllmmer of his diamonds
before anything. Then came the pu-
gilist, then a lady with head of hair
like bath sponge. then another, and
the party was complete.
Raffles ducked and pulled me down
In great excitement.
''The ladies' are going with Them" he
whispered This is great"
"That's better still"
'The Gardeniaw the millionaire had
bawled.
"And that's best of ALL" said Raffles,
standing upright as hoofs and wheels
crunched through the gates and ratified
off at fine speed.
"Now what?" whispered, trembling
with excitement.
They'll be clearing away. Yes, here
come their shadows. The drawing
room windows open on the lawn. Bun
ny, it's the psychological moment.
Where's that mask?"
1 produced it with a hand whose
trembling 1 tried in vain to still and
could have died for Raffles when he
made no comment on what he could
not fail to notice. His own hands
were firm and cool as he adjusted my
mask for me and then his own.
"By Jove, old boy" he whispered
cheerily, you look about the greatest
ruffian ever saw! These masks alone
will down a niger If we meet one.
But I'm glad l remembered to tell you
not to shave. You'll pass for White
chapel If the worst comes to the worst
and you don't forget to talk the lingo.
sure of it and leave the dialogue to me;
but, please our stars, there will be no
need. Now, are you ready?"
"Quite"
"Got your gagT
eyes"
"Shooterw
eyes"
"Then follow me-"
In an instant we We're over the wall,
in another on the lawn behind the
house. There was no moon. The very
stars in their courses had yelled them
selves for our benefit. 1 crept at my
leaders, heels to some French win
dows opening upon shallow veran-
da. He pushed. They yielded.
Luck again." he whispered; moth
ing but luck Now for a light"
And the light came!
A af oil nj hI1pp
gloWed red for the fraction Of sec
ond, then rained merciless white
beams into our blinded eyes. When
we found our sight, four revolvers Gov
cred us, and between two of them the
colossal frame Of Reuben Rosenthall
shook with a wheezy laughter from
head to foot.
Good evening, boys" he hiccoughed
"Glad to see We at last. Shift foot or
finger, you on the left, though, and
you're a dead boy. l mean you, you
greaser"' he roared out at Ratfles. 81
know you. I've been waitin' for you.
I've been watchin' you all this week
Plucky smart you thought yerself,
didn't you? One day beggin', next
time shammin' tight and next one O.
them old pals from Kimberley what
never comes when I'm in. But you
left the same tracks every day, you
buggins, and the same tracks every
night all round the blessed premises"
''All right, guv'nor," drawled Raff1es;
don't excite. It's a fair cop. We
don't sweat to know 'ow you brung it
orr. On'y don't you go for to shoot,
COS we int awmed, s'help me Gord!'
"Ah, you're a KNOWN one" said
Rosenthall, lingering his triggers, "but
you've struck knowin'er."
''Ho, yuss, we know all abaht tibet!
Set thief to ketch thief-ho, yuss."
My eyes had torn themselves from
the round black muzZles, from the ac-
cursed diamonds that had been our
snare, the pasty pig face of the over
fed pugilist and the flaming cheeks
and hook nose of Rosenthall himself.
/ was looking beyond them at the door
way filled with quivering silk and
plush, black faces, white eyeballs, wool
ly pates, but a sudden silence recalled