Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-08-09
Story Continued.

Nov ~newspapers!"
I fetched a pile. He bid the cup of
gold a ridiculous farewell, wrapped 1t
up IN newspaper after newspaper, and
finally packed 1t in the empty biscuit
box.
"Now some brown paper. don't
want to be taken for the grocer's young
man."
A neat enough parcel 1t made when
the string had been tied and the ends
cut close. What was more difficult
was to wrap up Rafles himself in such
a way that even the porter could not
recognize him If they came face to
face at the r And the sun was
still up. But Raf1es would go, and
when he did I should not have known
him myself.
He may have been an hour away.
1t was barely dusk when he returned,
and my first question referred to our
dangerous ally, the porter. Rallies had
passed him unsupported In going, but
had managed to avoid him altogether
on the return journey, which he had
completed by way Of the other en-
trance and the roof. I breathed again.
"And what have you done with the
cup?"
placed it"
GLOW much for? How much for?"
"Let me think. l had a couple Of
cabs and the postage was a tenner,
with another twopence for registration.
Yes, it cost me exactly five and eight"
1T cost you? But what did you get
for it, Rafles?"
Nothing, my boy"
"Nothing!"
"Not q crimson cent"
II am not surprised. I never thought
it had a market value. I told you so
in the beginning" I said irritably.
"But. what on earth have you done
with the thing?"
"sent it to the queen"
"You haven'tw
Rogue Is a word with various mean
1ngs, and Rallies had been one sort of
rogue ever since 1 had known him, but
now for once he was the innocent va
riety, a great gray haired child, run
ming over with merriment and mischief.
"Well, I've sent it to Sir Arthur
Bigge to present to her majesty, with
the loyal respects of the thief, If that
will do for you," said Raf1es. 81
thought they might take too much
stock of me at the G. P. O. if I ad-
dressed it to the sovereign herself.
Yes, l drove over to st. Martins lie
Grand with it, and 1 registered the box
into the bargain. Do a thing properly
If you do it at ALL"
But why on EARTH" l groaned. "do
such a thing at all?"
"My dear Bunny, we have been
reigned over for over sixty years by
infinitely the finest monarch the world
has ever seen. The world Is taking
the present opportunity Of signifying
the fact for all it is worth. Every ma
ton is laying it's best at her royal
feet, every class in the community is
doing it's little level-except ours. All
I have done is to remove n reproach
from our fraternity"
At this I came round. was infected
with his spirits, called him the sports
man he always was and would be and
shook his daredevil hand in mine. But
at the same time 1 still had my qualms.
"Supposing they trace it to usT'
said I.
There's not much to catch hold of
in a biscuit box of Puntley & Halmer,"
replied Raf1es. THAT was why l sent
you for one. And I didn't write a
word upon a sheet Of paper which
could possibly be traced. I simply
printed two or three on a virginia.
Observation-Disclosures halfpenny to the bad
which might have been bought at
any p~ostofice in the kingdom. No, old
chap, the G.. P. o. was the one real
danger. There was n detective
spotted for myself, and the sight of
him has left me with a thirst. Whis-
ky and Sullivans for two, Bunny, If
you please"
Rallies was soon clinking his glass
against mine.
1.-THE queen" said he. "God bless
her"