The Washington herald., 1914-03-29

guard. and-stow him away? No-there
were such things as windows. Then why
was Raffies going to desert US all? I
thought Of many things-lastly of q cab.
These bedroom windows looked into q
narrow side street; they were not very
high; from them a man might drop on
to the roof of a cab-even as IL passed
and be driven away-even under the
noses Of the police! pictured Rafies
driving that cab, unacceptable In the
foggy night; the vision came to me as
he passed under the window. tuckinx I'D
the collar OF his great driving coat ON
the way to his rooms; it was still with
me when he passed again on his way
back, and stopped to hand the constable
his key.
We're on his track" said voice be-
hind me- Hes got up on the leads,
sure enough. though how he managed II
from yon window is a myst'ry to me.
We're going to lock up here and try what
it is like from the attics- So you'd bet
ter come with US il you've a mind"
The top floor at the Albany. as else
where. is devoted to the servants-a con-
geries OF little kitchens and cubicles,
used by many as lumber rooms-by Raj
fies among the many. The annex In
this case was, of course, empty as the
rooms below; and that was lucky, for
We filed it. what with the manager. who
now Joined US, and another tenant
whom he brought with him to Macken-
zie's undisguised annoyance.
Better let in all Piccadilly at a crown
a head" said he. Here. my pan. out
you go on the roof to make one less. and
have your truncheon handy"
We crowded to the Nttle window, which
Mackenzie took care to fill; and a min
ute yielded no sound but the crunch and
slither OF constahulary boots upon sooty
states. Then came a shout.
What now?" cried Mackenzie
"A rope. We heard. hanging from the
spout by a hook
''Sirs." purred Mackenzie. "yon's how
he got UP from below! He would do it
with one O. they telescope sticks. an I
never thocht OF! How long a rope. my
Iad?'
Quite short. I've got IT."
Did 1t hang over a window? Ask him
that cried the manager. He can see
by leaning over the parapet"
The question was repeated by Macken-
zie; a pause. then Yes. It did"
ASK him how many windows aIong"'
shouted the manager in high excitement
six. he says" said Mackenzie next
minute: and he drew in his head and
shoulders. II should just like to see
those rooms. six windows along"
Mr.. Rafies'." announced the manager
after a mental calculation.
rs that a factT' cried Mackenzie
Then We shall have no difficulty at all.
He's left me his key down below"
The words had a dry. speculative in
tonation, which even then I found time
to dislike: it was as though the coinci-
dence had already struck the scotchman
as something more.
Where is Mr.. Rafles?" asked the
manager. as We all filed downstairs.
He's gone out to his dinner" said
Mackenzie.
Are you sure?'
II saw him go" said l. My heart was
beating horribly. would not trust my
self to speak again. But wormed my
way to a front place in the little process
sion. and was. in fact. the second man
to cross the threshold that had been the
Rubicon of my lite. As did so uttered
a cry OF pain. for Mackenzie had trod
back heavily on my toes; in another sec
ond I saw the reason. and saw it with
another and a louder cry.
A man was lying at full length before
the fire on his back. with little wound
in the white forehead. and the blood
draining into his eyes. And the man was
RafHcs himself!
Suicide" said Mackenzie calmly NO
here's the poker-looks more like mur-
der" He went on his knees and shook
his head quite cheerfully. AN it's not
even murder" said he. with a shade of
disgust in his matter-of-fact voice: "yon's
no more than a flesh wound. and I have
my doubts whether it feIled him: but,
sirs. he just stinks O. chloryform,"
He got up and fixed his keen gray eyes
upon me; my own were full of tears, but
they faced him unashamed.
Il understood We to say ye saw him go
out?" said he sternly.
Il saw that long driving coat; of
course. I thought he was inside it"
And 1 could ha' sworn it was the same
gent when he give me the keyI"
1t was the disconsolate voice of the
constable in the background; on him
turned Mackenzie. white to the lips.
You'd think anything. some of you
damned policemen" said he DO you
know who you've let slip. butterfngers?
Crawshay-no Iess-him that broke Dart
moor yesterday"
Working face-shaking flst-a calm
man on fire. II was a new side of Mac
kenzie. and one to mark d to disgust
Next moment he had fiounced from our
midst
Difficult thing to break your own
head" said Rafies later; infinitely
easier to cut your own throat. Chloro-
FORMS another matter; when you've used
70 -, the dooa