Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-10

on with hand that hardened on my
arm.
ut was nearer thing than 1 care
about" said he. This seat will do
No, the next ones farther from the
lamp post. We will give him good
half hour, and don't want to talk"
We had been seated some minutes
when Big Ben sent a languid chime
over our heads to the stars. 1t was
half past 10 and a sultry night. Eleven
had struck before Raffies awoke from
his sullen reverie and recalled me from
mine with slap on the back. In a
couple of minutes we were in the light
ed yestibule at the inner end of the
courtyard of King Johns mansions.
"Just left Lord Ernest at Lady Kirk
leatham's," said Rallies. "Gave me his
key and asked us to wait for him In
his rooms. Will you send us up In the
lift?"
In a small way 1 never knew old
Rallies do anything better There
was not an inStant's demur. Lord Err
nest Belville's rooms were at the top
of the building, but we were in them
as quickly as lift could carry and
page boy conduct us, and there was
The boy opened the outer door with
one of his own and switched on the
lights before leaving us.
'.Now that's interesting" said Raffles
as soon as we We're alone. 'They car
come in and clean when he is ont
What if he keeps his swag at the
bank? BY love, that's an idea fol
him! 1 don't believe he's getting rid OF
it. It's all lying low somewhere, if I'm
not mistaken, and he's not fool"
While he spoke he was moving about
the sitting room, which was charming
ly furnished in the antique style and
making as many remarks as though he
were an auctioneer's clerk with an
inventory to prepare and a day to dc
it in, instead of n craftsman who
might be surprised in his crib at any
moment.
"Chippendale of sorts, eh, Bunny
Not genuine, of course, but where can
you get genuine Chippendale now, and
who knows it when they see it?
There's no merit in mere antiquity
Yet the way people pose on the sub
ject, If things handsome and use
full and good cabinet making it's good
enough for me-"
Hadn't we better explore the whole
place." / suggested nervously. He had
not even bolted the outer door, nor
would he when 1 called his attention
to the omission.
eff Lord Ernest finds his rooms lock-
ed up he'll raise CAIN said Raffies.
1--WE must let him come in and lock up
for himself before I'VE corner him. But
he won't come yet. If he did it might
be awkward, for they'd tell him down
below what told them. A new staff
comes on at midnight. 1 discovered
that the other night"
Surprising he does come in before?''
"Well, he can't have us turned out
without first seeing who we are, and
he won't try 1t on when I've had one
word with him-unless my suspicious
are unfounded, i mean" "a
isn't it about time to test them?'
"NIy good Bunny, what do you sup
pose I've been doing all this while?
He keeps nothing in here There isn't
lock TO the Chippendale that you
couldn't pick with penknife, and not
q loose board in the floor, for l was
treading for one before the boy left
us. Chimney's no use in Il place like
this where they keep them swept for
you. Yes, I'm quite ready to try his
bedroom" 81 -
There was but bathroom besides;
no kitchen, no servants. room. Neither
is necessary in King Johns mansions.
1 thought it as we'll to put my head in
side the bathroom while Rallies went
into the bedroom, for was tormented
by the horrible idea that the man might
all this time be concealed somewhere
in the fat. But the bathroom blazed
void in the electric light. found Raj
fles hanging out of the starry square
which was the bedroom window, for
the room was still I'm darkness. l felt
for the switch at the door.
Put 1t out again!" said Raffles fierce
ly. He rose from the sill, drew blind
on the light himself. 1t fell upon a
face creased more in pity than in an
ger, and Rallies only shook his head as
hung mine.
Its all right, old boy" said he, "but
have windows, too, and serv-
ants have eyes, and You and 1 are sup
posed to be in the other room, not in
this. But cheer up. Bunny? This is
the room; look at the extra bolt on the
door. He's had that put ON. And
there's an iron ladder to his window in
case of fire! Way of escape ready
against the hour of need He's bet
ter man than 1 thought him, Bunny,
after all. But you may bet your bot
tom dollar that if there's any Doodle In
the fat it's in this room"
Yet the room was very lightly fur
nished and nothing was locked. We
looked everywhere, but we locked in
vain. The wardrobe was filled with
coats and trousers in a press,
the drawers with the softest silk and
finest linen. 1t was camp bedstead
that would not have unsettled an an
,lOrfp There was no nlaco for trans