The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-04-29

SuaTluBs. AL your GOOD uuCi0
keeps some Of these little hounds?"
said Monsieur Rigaud, seating him
self at some distance from Chloe's.
black muzzle. "They are said to be
4 g great protection"
4 fThey are only little useless play
things of my aunt,s,T said; Arthur,
smiling. ~She is very fond of them;
but as for protection, don't fancy
they are very courageous
| Monsieur Rigaud was looking fur
| lively at Arthur's stalwart form.
@You are very tall and very
strong?r he said, interrogatively.
Eyes, am both"
at is a fine. thing to have so per-
feet physique said the old French
man, rather plaintively. Nobody
would like to NEEDLE with you
II don't think they would" said
Arthur, smiling. Only. Of course,
one may be one against numbers"
True. I wish was strong like
you," he went on; aand wish my
! life were of as little value as yours.
i Stay! ]. did not mean that. Do not
be- offended.
81 am not In the least offended"
said Arthur. laughing. My life can
Certainty not be considered the least
valuable just now. hope to make it
so In time"
aAh, yes. doubtless. Of course you
Will; but meanwhile?n
- Meanwhile it does not matter"
Certainly. How we'll .rou speak.
/ have q box, little box. It contains
4 papers of no value to any one but
myself: to others useless, but to me
inestimable. went into your room
] just now. 1t was a mistake. / would
not have intruded for the world, but
I am q man Of quick observation. I
could not help seeing you had there
q strong cupboard with good lock.
q firm. new lock; mahogany cup
board"
EYES," said Arthur, sit is so.
There Is stout old wardrobe there
] I hang my coats in IT,"
There Is nothing of the kind in
my ROOM" said Monsieur Rigaud.
Nowhere to put my little box And
the housemaid looked at it so much,
What sort of a woman is that house
! maid?"
3 "A very good servant, believe"
said Arthur, carelessly. "The SER
| wants all are good here
1t is a small favor to ask" said
Monsieur Rigaud. THAT box, might
leave 1t in your charger"
with pleasure" said Arthur.
1 0VOvr dhr II
"You are strong, you are young"
said Monsieur Rigaud. admiringly;
sand those whose lives are of small
value live longest and in most safety.
You are sure it will in no way de-
range your"
BY no means" said Arthur. who
could not help inwardly laughing at
the naive rudeness of the old French
man.
Then let us lose no time. p said
Monsieur Rigaud, leading the way
| upstairs.
He brought in his box. black
dressing case or dispatch box Of
strong leather, strapped and double
strapped and fastened with Dramah
lock. He put 1t in Arthur's cupboard
and nestled it among his boots in the
farther corner. He then locked the
cupboard and deliberately placed the
key in his pocket. a a.
But STOP said Arthur ."Let me
at least get all the clothes want to-
morrow morning.
Monsieur Rigaud gave up the key
very reluctantly, and Arthur good
naturedly bundled out his clothes,
and, relocking it, returned him the
key. They went downstairs and
found their host and hostess ready
| for dinner.
Arthur slept soundly that night,
very soundly, as his vigorous health
and clear conscience enabled him to
do. But about 2 O'Clock he awoke
suddenly with the odd sensation that
there was some one in the room.
Arthur had plenty of presence of
mind. He made no movement, but
lay perfectly still, and through a
chink in the curtain surveyed what
was passing in his room
The shutters were Enclosed and
the moon shone in. making brilliant
white square on the ground. as ii u
sheet had been laid on the floor; be-
yond the square of light it was black
darkness. only the dim outline visible
of the big mahogany wardrobe with
its door open.
Some one was moving with most
unnatural stiffness of movement.
4 Straining his eyes Arthur fancied he
I could make out something person
sitting on the floor; but the complete
outline was broken by the open door
/! of the wardrobe. He held his breath
and watched more closely.
Good Heavens" he thought. $50
it was not a delusion of the old fell
lows after all. His box was valuable,
and some BLACKBOARD is after it,"
He was just about to spring out of