Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-07-05
NINE POINTS
Of THE LAW
lcoNT1NUED.l
No. 5 of the Series

"QaNlnS Ine very UeNll OF Il time. Not
a word till l tell YOU all I've done. l
settled my plan Of campaign Yesterday
at lunch. The first thing was to get in
with this nan CraggS. You can't break
into a place like the Metropolis; it's got
to be done from the inside. Problem
one, how to get at the fellow. Only
one sort of preteXt would dot must
be something to do with this blessed
picture, so that 1 might see where he'd
got it and all that. Well. l couldn't go
and ask to see it out of curiosity, and
I couldn't go as a second representa-
tive Of the other old chap. and it was
thinking how I could go that made NE
Such q bear at lunch. But l saw my
way before we got up. If l could only
lay hold of a copy of the picture 1
might ask leave to go and compare it
with the original. So down l went to
Esher to find out if there was a cop
ip existence and was at Broom Hall
for u hour and a half yesterday aft
ernoon. There was no copy there, but
they must exist, for Sir Bernard him
self there's copy therey has allowed
q couple to be made since the picture
has bean in his possession. He hunt
ed up the painters addresses, and the
rest of the evening 1 spent in hunting
up the painters themselves, but their
work had been done on commission.
One copy had gone out of the country,
and I'm still on the track of the 9TH
err"
"Then YOU haven't seen Craggs yet:'
Seen him and made friends with
him, and, if possible, he's the funnier
old cuss of the two; but you should
study 'em both. 1 took the bull by
the horns this morning, went in and
lied like Ananias, and it was just
as we'll I did. The old rufian sails
for Australia by tomorrow's boat. l
told him a man wanted to sell me a
copy Of the celebrated 'Infanta Maria
Teresa Of Velasquez; that I'd been
down to the supposed owner of the
picture only to find that he had just
sold it to him. You should have seer
his face when l told him that. He
grinned all round his wicked old head.
Did old Debenham admit the sale:'
says he, and when l said he did he
chuckled to himself for about five
minutes. He was so pleased that he
did just what l hoped he would do,
he showed me the great picture-luck-
lily, it isn't by any means a large one
also the case he's got it in. It's an
iron map case, in which he brought
over the plans of his land in Bris-
hmm IIn ryortc to 1--@r, 49, --z.1l
suspect it of containing an old mas
ter too? But he's had it fitted with
q new Chubb lock, and l managed to
take an interest in the key while he
was gloating over the canvas. had
the wax in the palm of my hand, and
I shall make my duplicate this after
noon"
Raf1es looked at his watch and
jumped up, saying he had given me
a minute too much.
by the way" be added, you've
got to dine with him at the Metro
pole tonight
"I?'
eyes. Don't ook so scared. Both
of US are invited. l swore you were
dining with me. l accepted for us
both, but l shan't be there"
His clear eye was upon me, bright
with meaning and with mischief.
implored him to tell me what his
meaning was.
"You will dine in his private sitting
room," said Raffies. ut adjoins liz
bedroom. You must keep him sitting
as long as possible, Bunny. and talk
ing all the timer
In a fash l saw his plan.
you're going for the picture while
we're at dinner!'
81 am"
IF he hears you"
"He shan't."
"But if he doesr'
And fairly trembled at the thought
"1f he does" said Raff1es, there will
be a collision, that's all. Revolve.
would be out of place in the Metropole
but shall certainly take a life pre-.
server"
"But it's CHASTITY" l cried. TO 81,
and talk to an utter stranger and tc
know that you're at work in the nex'
ROOM"
1.-TWO thousand apiece said Rattle
quietly.
upon my soul, / believe | shall Civ.
it away"
mot you, Bunny. | know you bette
than you know yourself"
He put on his coat and his hat.
"What time have ! to be there?'
asked him, with q groan.
"Quarter to s. There will be a tclc
gram from me saying ! can't turn VI,
He's a terror to talk. You'll nave NJ
difficulty IN keeping the ball ro!lln.
But head him off his picture for a!
you're worth. If he offers to show /
you, say you must go. He locked y,
the case deliberately this afternoon. AN
there's no earthly reason why he Shout,