Evening journal., 1907-04-19

his own way. OWneIh OF Wins ulAutA
themselves against him, and country
eonstables watched the highways, but
Raffies escaped detection and contin-
ued his unlawful way. The male pop
ulation for ten miles around could see
no romance in his dolngs and threaten
ed to shoot him on sight As a nat
ural result, the women. and more espe-
cially the young ladles, made a hero
Of him and declared that it was the
most romantic thing they had ever
heard Of.
Ravensrest had not vet received a
visit from the gentlemanly robber.
Fred Long, son Of the widow and
owner Of the villa and It's acres, rea-
soned It out that Rallies had heard OF
him, his firearms and his eternal Wig
ilance. The mother hoped the rascal
would not come, but expected him
nightly The daughter, Judith, who
had just turned twenty was nervous
and heroic by turns. and it was left
for Aunt Martha to fret and worry
and wake up a dozen times every night
shaking with fear She had a few
mining bonds In her trunk, also q few
pieces Of ancient jewelry, and after
I the robberies began she was inslstent
upon going TO the city to place her
/ valuables in safe deposit A start was
made one morning, accompanied by
the widowed sister and Fred, and they
were hardly on their way when things
began to happen
Judith didn't care to make one OF
the party and was therefore left be
hind to swing in her hammock and
read the latest novel She had just be-
come interested in its pages when along
came Constable Drew, who was sup
posed to hold all the clews thus far
gathered and to be hot on the trail OF
a dozen more. He stopped his buggy
to announce;
"Well. that fellow got into Wilkin-
sons last night and fairly cleaned out
the place. though there were three
men and two dogs keeping watch. I'm
hot after him and expect to get him
before night. If any suspicious charac-
ters should be seen sneaklng around
here, I hope you win let me know. This
here Rafles spots Off his houses In the
daytime and enters them at night"
AS the constable logged along and
Ruth returned to her book a young
man who looked as much like Rafiles
as anybody else came sauntering along
the turnpike from the depot and had
approached within a quarter Of a mile
of the house. Soon after leaving the
depot he met old Mr. Jones and asked
his way to the Agnew place Mr.. Jones
had been deaf for forty years, bu
pride prevented hls admitting his all
ment He didn't know whether lie ha'
been asked who was governor Of th'
state OF II the tomato crop promised
good yield: but, wanting to be civil, h'
told the inquirer to turn in at the frs
drive he came to on the left. The pc
destrian came to a drive on his lef
and turned in under the old walnut
trees.
He didn't act like a man who was
expecting to see anybody in particular
T, From the front Of the house, after gaz
F., ing for Eve minutes, he passed to tho
rear and then walked slowly along t.
a the stables and the garage. II wa.
K then that one OF the maids came run
= ming across the lawn to Miss Judltl
e and gasped out
= ITS that Rafles, and we shall al
p have our throats cutv'
r "Who- Whatw was the exclamation
as the young lady tumbled out OF th'
/ hammock i'm her haste
Il saw him when he came in. Hei
been spottlng Off the house, as you
brother calls it. He's gone now to spo
off the barns. He wants a horse anI
buggy to take his plunder away. Jus
3 to think that we must all have on
4 throats cut from ear TO ear in broa,
Daylight Shall l bring you one o
2 your brothers guns?
3 "Y-yes. but I never fired a gun. Per
haps the sight Of 1t will scare him
though"
AS Judith looked toward the garag
she saw the stranger come to the doc
I after evidently having inspected the in
terior Then he disappeared again. !
S flashed across her mind that he wa
T. after the big new auto, and, gun II
p. hand she made a run for It. The bii
3 entrance doors Of the brick buildinl
were closed, but the side door stool
! open. In a minute she had reached Il
slammed 1t shut and turned the key
Rafies was a prisoner at last. Their
was a skyllght to the building, but n
e windows The prisoner was as safe a
Y If in a village lookup. A few second
] after the door was shut he began kick
{ ing on the other side. His voice wa
also raised in protest, but was heedel
not. The gardener and the servan
girls came on the run. and the gardene
took the gun from Judith, squared OF
at the door and called out:
'Now, then. it's Tim OGrady you'v
got to do with instead Of the tenderes
hearted and best looking young lad
in all America, and the sooner you III
derstand that I'm thirsting for you
"a blood the better it will be for the bot
e Of u.s."
=. Il say there's a mistake!" came 1
b faint tones through the heavy door.
N You bet your life there Isl" reptile
# Tim. "You didn't think there was
A man around the place who has she
E. seven different robbers in his time an
J. cut down no end Of thieves in thel
e proud days. You may be a desperat
q man. hut I'll have you know that Tin