Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-07-05

Wueu ne sees IL, Won 80
about his pictures much more. Why,
this ones worth all the pictures in
the colony O Queensland put together;
worth 100000, my boy-and I got it
for tive!"
He dug me in the ribs and seemed
in the mood for further condolences,
My appearance checked him, and he
rubbed his hands.
IF you take it like that" he
chuckled. ''how will old Johnson take
it? Go out and hang himself to his
own picture rods, l hope
Heaven knows what l contrived to
say at last. Struck speeches. first by
my relief, I continued silent from 4
very different cause. \ new tangle Of
emotions tied my tongue. Ratiles had
failed! Raft1es had failed! Could l not
succeed? Was it too late? Was there
no way?
so long" he said. taking 4 last look
at the canvas before he rolled it up,
80 long till we get to Brisbane"
The tiutter l was in rs he closed the
case!
For the last time" he went on as
his keys jingled back into his pocket.
ut goes straight into the strong room
on board"
For the last time. If | could but
send him out to Australia With only its
legitimate contents in his precious
map case. If l could but succeed
where Rattles had failed!
We returned to the other room. |
have no notion how long he talked or
what about. Whisky and soda water
became the order of the hour. l scarce
~ touched it, but he drank copiously,
and before IL l left him incoherent.
And the last train for Eshcr was the
11:50 out of Waterloo.
l took a hanson to my rooms. l
was back at the hotel in thirteen min
utes. I walked upstairs. The CORR
dol was empty. l stood an instant on
the sitting room threshold, heard a
snore within and admitted myself
softly with my gentleman's own key
which it had been a very simple matter
W tdhe away With me.
CraggS moved. He was
stretched III the sofa fast asleep, but
not fast enough for me. l saturated
my handkerchief With the uhloroform
l q brought and laid it gently over
his mouth. Two or three stertorous
breaths, and the man was a log.
removed the handkerchief. ex.
tracted the keys from his pocket. In
less than five minutes l put them back
after winding the picture about my
body beneath my Inverness cape.
took some whisky and soda water be,
fore l went.
The train was easily caught-so
easily that l trembled for ten minutes
in my first class smoking carriage, in
terror of every footstep on the plat.
form, in unreasonable terror till the
end. Then at last l sat back and lii
a cigarette, and the lights of Waterloo
reeled out behind.
Some men were returning from the
theater. ] can recall their converse.
ton even now. They were disappoint.
ed with the piece they had seen. II
was one of the later Savoy operas, and
they spoke wistfully of the days OF
"Pinafore' and Patience" One OF
them hummed a stave, and there was
an argument as to whether the air was
out Of Patience" or The Mikado.'
They all got out at Surbiton, and l was
alone with my triumph for a few in.
toXicating minutes. To think that
had succeeded where Raff1es haG
failed! OF all our adventures this was
the first in which l had played a com
handing part, and of them all this
was infinitely the least discreditable
1t left me without a conscientious
qualm. l had but robbed a robbie!
when all was said. And l had done ii
myself, single ha%nded-ipse egomet.
pictured RafHes, his surprise and
delight. He would think a little more
Of me in future. And that future-i1
should be different. We had f2,OO(
apiece-surely enough to start afresl
as honest men-and all through me!
In a glow l sprang out at Esher anc
took the one belated cab that wa.
waiting under the bridge. In a per
feet fever l beheld Broom Hail, Will
the lower story still lit up, and saw thu
front door open as l climbed the steps
Thought it was YOU" said Rattle:
cheerily. Its all right. There's {
bed for you. Sir Bernard's sitting VI
to shake your hand"
His good spirits disappointed me
But l knew the man. He was one OF