Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-05-24

signals had been studiously obcycd,
and the man passed On in undisturbed
serenity. In the end | had Il signal Ia
my turn and retraced my steps With
lighted matches down the broad stairs
down the narrow Zones, across the area
and up into the lobby where RaNlcs
awaited me with an outstrctchel hand.
"Well done. my boy, said he.
you're the same good man in Il pinch.
and YOU shall have your reward. I've
got $1,000 worth if I've got a pcnn'oth.
It's all in my pockets. And here's
something else l found in this locker
very decent port and some cigars.
meant for poor, dear Danhy's business
friends. Take a pull. and YOU shall
light up presently. I've found a lava
tory, too, and we must have a wash
and brush up before we go, for I'm as
black as Your boot"
The iron curtain was down, but he
insisted on raising it until ! could
peep through the glass door on the
other side and see his haudiwork in
the shop beyond. Here two electric
lights We're left burning all night long,
and in their cold white rays l could at
first see nothing amiss. looked along
an orderly lane. an empty glass coun-
ter on my left. glass cupboards of un-
touched silver OIL my right and, facing
me, the tilmy black eye Of the peep
hole that shone like a stage moon on
the street. The counter had not been
eniptied by RafleS. Its contents were
in the Chubb's safe, which he had civ
en- up at q glance. Nor had he looked
at the silver, except to choose q ciga-
rette case for me. He had confined
himself entirely to the shop window.
This was In three compartments, each
secured for the night by removable
panels With separate locks. Rallies
had removed them Il few hours before
their time, and the electric light shone
or a corrugated shutter bare as the
ribs of an empty carcass. Every ar
ticle of value was gone from the one
place which was invisible from the lit
tie window in the door. Elsewhere all
was as it had been left overnight. And
but for a train of mangled doors be
hind the iron curtain. a bottle of wine
and a cigar box with which liberties
had been taken, a rather black towel
in the lavatory, a burnt match here
and there and our finger marks on the
dusty bannisters not a trace of our
visit did we leave.
Had it in my head for long," said
Ratfies as we strollel through the
streets toward dawn, for all the world
as though we We're returning from a
dance. NO, Bunny. l never thought
of it till l SAW that u9pv, part empty
about a month ago and bought Il few
things in the shop to g&t the lay of the
land. That reminds me that l never
paid for them; but. by Jove, will to-
morrow, and if that isn't poetic jus
tice what is? One visit showed me
the possibilities of the place, but a
second convinced me of its impossi-
bilities without a pal. SO l had prac-
tically given up the idea when YOU
came along Oh the very night and in
the very plight for it. But here we are
at the Albany, and hope there's some
fire left, for l don't know how YOU
ASSI, i'tl1ilN, pul " lIS .)dEl / III us
cold as Keats owl"
He could think of Keats on his way
from a felony. He could banker for
his tireside like another. Flood gaze;
were loosed within me and The plain
English Of our adventure rushed ovnY
me as cold as ice. Ratlics wa, a TX.
glar. l had helped him to commit
one burglary; therefore | Was Il u.i
glar too. Yet | could stand ana warm
myself by his fire and wat II II. >
empty his pockets as though W" had
done nothing wonderful or wicked.
Ny blood froze. My heat si.kencl /.
My brain whirled. How had liked
this villain. How l had admire hin.
How my liking and admiration must
turn to loathing and disgust. waite,i
for the change. | longcl to EEL it il
my heart. But l lonyc! ami | waite
in vain.
saw that he was empty:ng Ii.
pockets. The table sparklod with thc.i
hoard. Rings by the dozen, G.:aMonls
by the score, bracelets, pendants,
aigrets, necklaces, pearls, ruD.ns. au.e
thysts, %sapphires and diamonds nj
ways, diamonds in everything, flashing
bayonets Of light, dazzling %mc-blinl.
ing mc-making me disbelievc because
l could no longer forget. Last Of al
came no gem, indeed, but my own re.
volvcr from an inner pocket. Ana that
struck a chord. l suppose I said some
thing-my hand flew out. | can s.,
Rallies now as he looked Ilr ou"l
more with Il high arch over each clrAl
eye. | can see him pick out tie car
tridgcs with his quiet, cyil.ca! sni.,
before he would give me my pi&i,
back again.
you mayn't believe it, Bunny SAID
he, but ! carried Il loaded one
before. On the whole, l think it give.
one confidence. Yet it would be very
awkward if anything went wrong
One might use it, and that's not iii,
game at all, though | have Often
thought that the murderer who hl.
Just done the trick must have grc.yr
sensations before things get too hot f1r
him. Don't look 50 distressed. by
4 1. I-l