The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-01-31
CHAPTER xI-continued.

caught a momentary glimpse of the
little drama that was going forward
In the first place he saw a man hur
riedly and uncerimoniously coming
Town a ladder from a window; saw
aim thrust something into the hands
Of another man, who stood near al
hand. and make off In another direc
ton, clearing the low hedge at a bound
and vanishing in the darkness. While
this was happening the door OF the
house had been wrenched open from
inside. and a young man had dashed
out, and grappled with a taller figure,
standing also ear the ladder-a taller
figure which, after a short struggle,
threw the man who had grappled with
him, and made off also, in the same di-
rection as the first. All this passed
within a few seconds, and before Philip
had had time to do anything. But he
saw, at this moment, that the man into
whose hands that something had been
thrust by the man who had come down
the ladder, was making off also-not
with the strength of the others, but as
though he were older and weaker.
This man Philip Chatter Immediately
| seized; when, to his CONSERVATION, the
man In his grip-and who was no ot,r
err than our friend DR.. Cripps-after
one Mortified glance into his face, fell
upon his knees, babbling and stutter-
ing; and then, casting from him what
he held, broke away, and went
careening like a mailman across The
garden.
Philip, for his part, was so aston
ished, that he made no effort to follow
the little man; bat, seeing something
cleaning In the faint light of the stars
on the ground at his feet, stopped, and
picked 1t up. Having dropped on n
knee in doing this he was absolutely
powerless to defend himself, when a
man sprang upon him, caught him by
the throat and forced him backward TO
the ground.
I've got one of you, at least" crieI
a voice which sounded c~uriously ia
miliar. IT'S no use struggling; You
won't get away, l can assure you"
Then, az he caught sight of the face or
his prisoner, he dropped his hands
from Philips throat and struggled 10
his feet, and stood staring down at
him. 1t was Arthur B%arnshaw.
For a moment or two there was a
deathlike silence between the two
men; then Philip spoke, although he
knew what he had to say would sound
futile and absurd.
Il heard that this robbery was 20
be committeeman / came here rs
rapidly as / could, In the hope to pre-
vent it." he said in a low voice.
Barnshaw's voice was cold and
hard when he replied. Indeed? How
did you hear of it,"
Thin London; quite by accident
What Is that you have in your
hand?" asked Barnshaw. in the same
tone.
Philip slowly raised his hand, which
held the thing DR.. Cripps had dropped,
and held 1t up In the light; 1t sparkIed
and %glittered, and threw back a hun
bred changing brilliancies to the
night.
1T Is my sisters necklace" said
Barushaw. Give 1t to me-" Then he
took 1t In his hand, saying slowly,
This was taken out Of the house To-
night by the men who have escaped.
They have all got ~away-except your
self"
Good heavens, BarVhaw," faltered
fhA affair. fxyN,t c,,roltr JAntf thtp1y ~
you knew that the robbery was to
be committed: SO much on your own
confession. find you hiding in the
garden, with this actually in your
hands" Without another word ne
turned and slowly walked back to the
house.
For some moments Philip knelt upon
the ground where the other had left
him, staring after B%arnshaw like one
stunned. Then, slowly and heavily, he
rose from his knees and went out of
the garden with bowed head. and with
out once looking round.
Meanwhile, DR.. Cripps, being incapa-
BILE Of the feat OF agility which had car
ried his friends over the hedge, went
crashing straight through 1t. ducked
suddenly, and ran along on the other
side beneath 1t, In order to keep out of
the view Of any one who might be on
the lookoue for him. And running
thus, he dashed straight into the arms
of a man who was also crouching down
behind II. After a very brief struggle,
himself in a grip from which it
was impossible to escape. he resigned
himself to circumstances, remained
passive, and looked up at his captor.
"Ogledon!" he calculated. II
thought 1t was q policeman"
The man into whose hands he had
fallen shooK him until his teeth
seemed to rattle, and whispered angri-
ly: so you've bungled 1t, have yon?
the house In that fashion.
Who's got the necklace?"
"D-D-Dandy C-C-Chatsri" suffered
Cripps, family.
The man dropped him as hurriedly
as though he had been red-hot, looked
all about him, and seemed to breathe
hard.
What do you mean? What the
dickens are you talking about?" He
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