The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-02-21

my dear sir. don't raise your
voice unless you wish to rouse the
servants"
A cunning CLEAN shot into the
burglars eyes.
so you don't want the servants
reused, either, eh?"
mo occasion to do so, I assure
you. ! rather fancy am quite capa-
bic of managing you single-handed,"
replied Mellor calmly. stand over
there--face to the wall"
The burglar did as he was bid,
and Mellor moved to the table, which
he cleared Of the valuables. Now,
here" He nodded to the table.
Down on your back. Arms straight
out over your head That's right.
Not move. now"
Then the company promoter TOOK
out his penknife and cut several long
strips from the heavy tapestry cur
tain. With these he bound the re-
cumbent burglar-an ankle to cach
of the legs at one end of the table.
and a wrist to each OF the others. a
wider strip. made into tight roll,
proved an effective gag. Mellor per-
formed these operations expeditions
ly. Ashby might return to Berkeley
Square earlier than was customary.
II can imagine his facial express
sion should he appear at the door
this moment" mused Mellor. There
my friend. YOU are nice and COM
Portable, and now | propose to de-
rart with what believe in your pro-
fession Is termed the 'swag'"
Mellor resumed his walk in the d.
rection of Piccadilly. The advancing
night was growing cooler, and he
was a firm believer In fresh air as a
thought-collecting agency.
Ashby, who was a dealer in dia-
monds, had spent some years in Jo-
haunesburg and Kimberly. When
Mellor had proceeded hundred yards
further. he ran into the arms of the
very man in his thoughts. Ashby for
once had left the club earlier than
usual. The latter would have passed
on with a nod.
But a daredevil feeling suddenly
possessed Mellor. He turned on his
heel and walked down the street side
by side with his victim. A miserable
woman came whining to them from
out of the shadows, and Melor fung
her coin.
Bang goes the last half-crown |
can call my own" said Mollor, with
laugh. but. poor devil, ! daresay
H.
could.
You speak fguratively, C.
course" said Ashby, gravely.
NO Literally"
Ashby stopped beneath a glaring
arc light. I'm sorry to hear you say
that, Mellor--deuced sorry. | CON
fess | had a suspicion that things
were none too rosy with YOU, of late.
But you're surely not serious-you're
not absolutely 'broke'?"
Absolutely" replied Melor,
calmly, as he cut the tip off a fresh
cigar whats the use of tearing
ones hair? It's an up-and-down
world. I'm pauper to-day; to-mor-
row | may be worth thousands,
Quien sabe?"
But, seriously, what do you pur-
pose doing?"
Heaven knows. These are tbs
times of the survival of the fittest.
The weak. gullible, the honest so
under. The strong. the cunning, the
weak? Am | gullible? Am | hon
est?"
Ashby was held by the Others
strange manner.
THE first two adjectives are cer-
tainly not applicable" he confessed.
Honest? Well, every man is hon
est till he's proved dishonest"
"Oh, I'm not offended" laughed
Mellor. Suppose there's nothing
left but theft between man and the
end Of all things. so far as he is con-
cerned. Is he to steal, or Is he to cut
his throat?"
You spoke of the survival OF the
fittest moment ago. But ! should
say, let him do away with himself.
tentative but felony"
I'm afraid | disagree. Good.
night. Hope you'll sleep we'll"
The only vocal noise a gagged
man is capable of can hardly be de-
scribed, but the burglars effort was
loud enough to catch Ashby's ear.
and the dealer in diamonds flung
open the study door, switched on the
electric light and beheld his mid
night visitor spread-eagled on the
table.
A constable and the sergeant OF
the beat, who happened to be near at
hand at the moment, heard Ashby's
whistle and were quickly upon the
scene.
Ashby turnd to the open safe.
Cleaned out close on twenty thou
sand pounds worth of diamonds"
"Gorblimey! but this is fair
treat, this is! is own pal bunked
wiv the sparklers." chuckled the
burglar.
"What the dauCa d'yOu mpan7p