The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-01-25

| petition which / had made on my own
\ willful account.
| 1t was between and o'clock in tho
! evening when we took up our position
| IN the garden adjoining that of Reuben
! Rosenthall. The house Itself was shut
up, thanks to the outrageous libertine
5sNt door, who, by driving away the
| nciShbors, had gone far toward deliv.
ering himself into our hands. Prac-
/ tically secure from surprise on that
side, we could watch our house under
cover of Il wall just high enough to see
! over, whiie Il fair margin of shrubs in
either garden afforded us additional
protection. Thus intrenched we had
| stood an hour, watching Il pair of light
ed bow windows with vague shadows
fitting continually across the blinds
and listening to the drawing of corks,
the clinll of glasses and Il 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 ana dining at undue
length. l thought it was dinner par
ty. Ratfles differed. In the end we
proved right Wheels grated in the
drive, carriage and pair stood at the
steps, there was a 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 glimmer of his diamonds
before anything. Then came the pu-
gilist, then lady with head of hair
the party was complete.
Rallies ducked and pulled me down
in great excitement
1.-The ladies are going with them" he
whispered. This is great!''
That's better STILL
bawled.
and that's best Of ALL" said Raffles,
standing upright as hoofs and wheels
Tunched 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:'
l produced it with a hand whose
trembling tried in vain to still and
could have died for Rattles when he
made no comment on what he could
not fail to notice. His own hands
We're 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
ruftian ever saw! These masks alone
will down niger if we meet one.
But I'm glad 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.
Better sulll like Il mule if you're not
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 gagy'
'Yes'
"Shooter?'
'Nes.''
'"rhen follow me-"
In an instant we We're over the wall,
in another on the lawn behind tho
house. There was no moon. The very
stars in their courses had yelled them
selves for our benefit. l 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 light
And the light camel
A good score of electric burners
gloWed red for the fraction of a sec
ond, then rained merciless white
beams into our blinded eyes. When
we found our sight, four revolvers COW
cred us, and between two of them the
colossal frame of Reuben Rosenthall
shook with 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 dead boy. | mean you, you
greaser!" he roared out at Raf1ies. II
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 beggn', 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 Ratties:
don't excite. It's fair cop. We
don't sweat to know 'ow you brung it
orr. Only don't you go for to shoot,
COS we int awmel S'heln me- Gordr'