The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1906-12-13
CHAPTER vi. (continued.)

Aioih yoe4 1oiNSuCD SiipPo, -
claimed the man who had spoken first.
"The count knows his own business
and ours; | expect he'll be here pres
entity"
or sincerely hope he won't"
thought Philip
"In the meantime, If you're sober
enough. doctor"-thls to the man he
had addressed as Cripps-"weW get
to business"
Philip Chatter pricked UP his ears;
he remembered, at that moment, that
Betty Siggs, In her disclosure to him
of the story of his own life, had men
toned a certain drunken little doctor,
of the name of Cripps, who knew the
secret Of his birth, and had been paid
10 keep 1t.
you'll be glad to know, Dandy"
went on the man who appeared to act
as a species of leader, that the busi-
ness at Sheffield has turned up trumps.
We don't mention names, even among
ourselves; but the haul was bigger
than we anticipated. The man behind
the counter-you know who | "a
gets a thousand for handing over the
fimsies; and gets 1t pretty easily, too,
to my mind. The rest Is divided out
between US, except for your share and
Ogledon's. Here's yours"-he handed
a packet across the table to Philip
land perhaps, as the count hasn't
turned up, you'd better take his as
well. Here 1t is"
Philip took the two packets, inward
ly wondering what they contained,
and thrust them into his pocket, with
a nod. AS he did so he became aware
that three of the heads had drawn to-
gether, and that whispers were pass
Ing amongst them, while three pairs
Of eyes were glancing in his direction.
Quick to fear hat some suspicion of
his identity might have come upon
them, he watched them covertly;
while such phrases as. "The count
said nothing about hint suppose
we'd better tell him'-"Hen know the
country, at any rate" and the like, fell
upon his attentive ears.
"Now, what the dickens are you
plotting there?" he asked. angrily.
The sandy-haired man raised his
head and spoke hesitatingly: We'll,
you see, Dandy, it's a little matter the
count mentioned last week, but he
didn't say anything about you. He's
told off the men for it, aud it's a mat
ter of a few diamonds, and only wom-
en- to deal with. But the counts par
ticular about one Of the women a
young one-coming by no hurt. After
all, it's down your way, and he must
have meant you TO know what was go
Ing on. It's for Friday. as soon after
midnight as may be. There's Briggs
here, and myself, and Cripps, In case
Of accidents. He wrote the address
and a rough plan. so that we might
and It without making inquiries.
Here you are" He tossed across the
table a folded piece Of paper as he
spoke.
Philips hand had had closed or the
paper, and he was In the very act OF
| opening Il, when q confused sound OK
scufning and angry voices came from
outside the door. Looking round
quickly, with the others, he saw the
Shady I'm dart In - breathless and
panting-and make a hasty attempt to
close 1t; indeed, he got his back plant
ed against 1t, while someone outside
was evidently striving hard to burst 1t
open, and pointed with a shaking hand
at Philip Chatter.
"Treactery, by heaven!" he gasped.
.Hefs put the splits on us
The mans appearance, no less than
his voice and the words he uttered,
was sufficient to cause alarm. He was
battered and bruised from his two e
counters with the captain and with the
woman into whose shop he had been
so unceremoniously thrust. while his
clothing-such as 1t was-had been
almost torn from him by his struggle
with the unknown person against
whom he still frantically held the
door. At the very moment he spoke
this unknown one, proving too much
for him, burst into the room. sweeping
the Shady I'm aside, and revealed
himself as Captain Peter Quist, with
out a hat, and In a great state OF per
spiration, disorder, and excitement.
Finding himself Unexpectedly In the
presence of half a dozen men-one o.
whom was Philip Chater-in addition
TO his late assailant, the captain
stopped, and looked around In some
establishment. At the same time the
Shady I'm, IN IN agony OF spite and
fear, backed away from him. and con
tinued to gasp out his indictment.
seed 'em together all night, ave
Dandy sent i'm ere. a-spyin' out fer the
count-an' -
Philip Chatter did not care to risl
waiting to give any explanation to thai
company. In point of fact, he feared
the honest captain more than n maj
there; for he dreaded lest he should
blurt out his knowledge of a certai'
Philip Crowdy, who was done with ant
left behind In the past. Therefore
edging quickly near to the captain
while he still kept his eyes on the 9th
or men, who had risen to their feet, n
whispered quickly:
MAKE q colt for it,"
There hung from tina ceiling. owe
the table. o single gAs jet. with
49, -..<@