Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-06-07
By e. W.

Sueu ulLl 1lOSl ulueouSlS WIN my re-
volver and left the white teeth chat
tering in his black head as | took the
stairs three at a time. Why l Went
upstairs in that decisive fashion. as
though it We're my only course. | can
not explain. But garden and ground
floor seemed alive with men, and l
might have done worse.
l turned into the first room l came
to. 1t was a bedroom-empty. though
lit up. And never shall | forget how
l started, as l entered, on encounter
ing the awful villain that was myself
at full length in a pier glass. Masked,
armed and ragged, 1 was indeed TT
carrion for a bullet or the hangman.
and to II or the other l made up my
mind. Nevertheless. l hid myself in
the wardrobe behind the mirror, and
there l stood Shivering and cursing
my fate, my folly, and BATTLES most of
all-Rafhes first and last-for l dare
say half an hour. Then the wardrobe
door was flung suddenly open. They
had stolen into the room without a
sound. and 1 was hauled downstairs.
an 1gnominious captive.
Gross scenes followed in the hall.
The ladies We're now upon the stage,
and at sight Of the desperate criminal
they screamed with one accord. In
truth, I must have given them fair
cause, though my mask was now toru
away and hid nothing but my left ear.
Rosenthall answered their shrieks with
a roar for silence. The woman With
the bath sponge hair swore at him
shrilly in return. The place became
q babel impossible to describe. l re-
member wondering how long it would
be before the police appeared. Purvis
and the ladies We're for calling them
in and giving me in charge without de
lay. Rosenthall would not hear of it.
he swore that he would shoot man or
woman who left his sight. He had had
enough of the police. He was not go
ing to have them coming there to spoil
sport; he was going to deal with me
in his own way. With that he dragged
me from all other hands, flung me
against a door and sent a bullet crash
ing through the wood within an inch
Of my ear.
you drunken fool. It'll be murder"
shouted Purvis, getting in the way a
second time.
"Wha' do l care? He's armed, isn't
he? l shot him in self defense. It'll
be a warnin' to others. Will you stand
aside, or dye want it yourself?'
you're drunk" said Purvis, still be-
tween us. II saw you AXE a neal
tumblerful since you come in, and its
made you drunk as a fool. Pull your
self together, old man. You amt
a-going to do what you'll be sorry for"
Then I won't shoot at him. III only
shoot roun' and roun' the beggar.
You're quite right, ole Teller. Wouldn't
hurt him. Great mishtake. ROM and
roun'. There-like that"
His freckled paw shot up over Pur-
Wis shoulder, mauve lightning came
from his ring, a red fash from his re-
volver and shrieks from the women as
the reverberations died away. Some
splint"rs lodged in ms hair.
Next instant the prize fighter disarm-
ed him, and i was safe from the devil,
but finally cooIned to the deep sea.
a policeman was in u midst. He had
entered through the drawing room win
dow. Ee WAS an Off Ger of few words
and c:e .i1.b.e Z olaptitude. In a
twin..ing l., I'D the handouts on my
wrists, ".!c TIC pug..ist explained the
situation aLI his patron reviled the
force and its representative with i'm
potent maligu!;y. y fine watch they
kept; a lot Of good they did, coming
in when all was oveI and the whole
household night have Deer murdered
In their sleep. The officer only deignel
to notice linn as II. marched me off.
eve know all about you. SIR said
he contemporary. and lie refused the
sovereign Purvis proffercd. You VIII
be seeing me again. sir. at Maryle-
bone
"Shall l ON now"
GAS you please, sir. l rather think
the other gentleman requires you more,
and l don't fancy this young man
means to give much trouble"
ooh, Pm coming quietly,' l said.
And I went.
In silence we %traversed perhaps a
hundred yards. 1t must have been
midnight. We did not meet a soul AT
last l whispered:
"How on earth did you manage it!'
"Purely by luck" said Raftles. 81
had the luck to get clear away through
knowing every brick of those back
garden walls and the double luck to
have these toys with the rest over at
Chelsea. The helmet is one of a col,
lection | made up at Oxford. Here it
goes over this wall, and we'd better
carry the coat and belt before We
meet a real officer. | got them once
for a fancy ball ostensibly, and there.
by hangs a yarn. | always thought
they might come in useful Il second
time. My chief cru tonight was get
ting rid Of the hanson that brought
me back. | sent him off to Scotland
Yard with 10 bob and Il special mes.
sage to good old Mackenzie. The whole
detective department will be ut no
%senthalls IN about half an hour. OF