The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-04-25
In Durance Vile.
DY Homer johnson.
DY Homer JobnSon.

An up to date Raffies had struck the
countryside and was having things all
his own way Owners Of villas armed
themselves against him, and country
constables watched the highways. but
Rallies escaped detection and contin-
ued his unlawful way. The male pop
ulation for ten miles around could see
no romance In his doings and threaten
ed to shoot him on sight As Il n;,t-
ural result. the women. and more cspe-
cially the vounr Indies. made II hero
of him and declared that it was the
most romantic thing they had ever
heard Of
Ravensrest had not vet received
visit from the Eentlemanly robber.
Fred Long. son of the widow and
owner of the villa and its acres. rea-
soned it out that Rallies had heard Of
him. his firearms and his eternal Wig
lance The mother hoped tho 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 dozen times every night
shaking with fear. She had n few
mining bonds in her trunk, also few
pieces OF ancient jewelry, aud after
the robberies began she was insistent
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. lie 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 sneaking around
here. hope you will let me know. This
here Raflps spots off his houses in the
daytime aud enters teen at night
IS the constab logged along and
Ruth returned to her book young
man who looked rs much like Rallies
as ANYBODY else came saunt2ring along
the turnpike from the depot and had
approached within a quarter of mile
of the house. Soon after leaving the
depot he met old Mr.. Jones and asked
bis way to the Agnew place. Mr.. Jones
had been deaf for forty years, but
pride prevented his admitting his all
ment. He didn't know whether he had
been asked who WAS governor Of the
state or If the tomato crop promised
good yield but. wanting to be civil, he
told the inquirer to turn in at the first
drive he came to on the left. The pc
destran came TO a drive on his left
and turned in under the old walnut
trees
He didn't act like a man who was
expecting to see anybody in particular.
From the front of the house, after gaz-
ing for five minutes. he passed to the
rear and then walked slowly along TO
the stables and the garage 1t was
then that one of the maids came run
ming across the lawn to Miss Judith
and gasped out.
ITS that Kafies. and we shall all
have our throats chit"
who What" was the exclamation
as the young lady tumbIed out of the
hammock in her haste
Il saw HIN when he came in. He's
been spotting off the house, as your
brother calls it, Hes gone now to spot
Off the barns. He wants horse and
buggy to take his plumber away. just
to think that we must all have our
throats cut from ear to ear in broad
daylight, Shall bring you one of
your brothers guus?''
~ yes. but never fired a gun Per
haps the sight of it will scare him.
though"
As Judith looked toward the garage
she saw the stranger come to the door
after evidently having inspected the in
terror Then he disappeared again. 1t
flashed across her mind that he was
after the big new auto, and gun in
hand, she made run for it, The big
entrance doors of the brick building
were closed but the side door stood
open. In minute she had reached it,
slammed 1t shut and turned the key
Raffles was a prisoner at last. There
was a skylight to the building but no
windows. The prisoner was as safe as
II In a village lookup. A few seconds
after the door was shut he began kick
ing on the other side. His voice was
also raised in protest, but was needed
not The gardener and the servant
girls came on the run, and the gardener
took the gun from Judith, squared off
at the door and called out:
Now, then, it's Tim O'Grady you've
got to do with instead of the tenderest
hearted and best looking young lady
In all America and the sooner you un-
derstand that I'm thirsting for your
blood the better 1t will be for the both
Of us"
a say there's a mistakew came in