The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-14

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
Rafies escaped detection and continued
his unlawful way The male population
for ten miles around could see no TO-
nance in his doings and threatened "a
shoot him on sight. As a natural result
the women. and more especially the young
ladies. made a hero of him and declared
that it was the most romantic thing they
had ever heard Of
Ravensrest had not yet received visit
| from the gentlemanly rObber Fred Long
son Of the widow and owner Of the villa
and its acres. reasoned II out that Raffies
had heard Of him. his firearms, and his
eternal vigilance; the m0ther 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 il was left for Aunt
Martha TO fret and worry and wake up
dozen times every night by shaking
with fear She had a few mining bonds
In her trunk, also a few pieces of ancient
jeWelry. and after the TobbeTies began
she was insistent upon going to the city
TO place her valuables in safe deposit.
start was made one morning. accom-
panied by the widowed sister and Fred
and they were hardly on their way when
things began 10 happen
judith didn't care 20 make one Of the
party, and was therefore left behind 70
swing in her hammock and read the lat
est novel She had just become interested
I'm its pages when along came Constable
Drew. who was supposed 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:
Wei that fellow got into Wilkinson 5
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
II any suspicious characters should be
seen sneaking around here, ] hope you'll
let me know. This here Rafies spots of
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 Raffles as anybody
else, came sauntering along the turnpike
from the depot. and had approached
within a quarter OF mile Of the house
Z
Mr. Jones and asked his way to the Ag-
new place. Mr. Jones had been deaf for
forty years, but pride prevented his ad-
hitting his ailment He didn't know
whether he had been asked who was
governor Of the State, or if the tomato
crop promised a good yield but wanting
to be civil he told the inquirer 10 turn
| In at the first drive he came to on the
left. The pedestrian came TO a drive on
his left and turned in under the old wal
nut trees
He didn't act like n man who was ex-
pecting 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. II was then
that one Of the maids came running
/ across the lawn 20 Miss Judith and
gasped out:
IT'S that Rafies, and we shall all have
our Threats cut"
'WhO-whati" was the exclamation as
/ the young lady tumbled out of the ham
mock in her haste.
u saw him when he came in. He's
been spotting off the house, as your broth
CT calls il. He's gone now to spot of
the barns. He wants a horse and buggy
TO take his plumber away. just to think
that we must all have our threats cut
from ear 10 ear in broad daylight, Shall
( l bring you one Of your brothers guns?'
Yves, but I never fired a gun Per-
haps the sight Of IL will scare him,
though
As Judith looked toward the garage.
she saw the stranger come 10 the door
after evidently having inspected the in
terror. Then he disappeared again. II
flashed across her mind that he was af-
ter the big new auto. and gun I'm hand
she made run for it, The big entrance
doors of the brick building were closed
but the side door stood open. In a min
ute she had reached it, slammed it shut
and turned the key. RATES. was a pris-
oner at last. There was a skylight Ia
the building, but no windows. The pris-
oner was as safe as If in a village lock-
I'D. A few seconds after the door was
shut he began kicking 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 understand
that I'm thirsting for your blood the
better It will be for the both of US.
Il say, there's a mistake" came I'm
faint tones through the heavy door.
you bet your life there is"' replied
Tim. You didn't think there was man
around the place who has shot seven
different robbers in his time and cut
down no end Of thieves i'm their proud
days. You may be a desperate man. but
I II have you know that Timothy O'Grady
Is desperater'
Gould we have made n mistake -
asked Miss Judith as she caught the pris-
Oners tones. He sounds like a gentle
man."
Never mistake, young lady" re-
Piled the gardener, as he marched to and
fro before the door It's the gentleman
~ Raffles we've got inside. and it's Raj
fies who'll stay there till the boy can
find and bring Constable Drew and forty
other men TO take him out and send him
TO prison for life. Away with you. Ted
dy. I knew that something was going
to happen when I got up this morning
feeling like a hero.
Judith and the servant girls withdrew