The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

that's what you nean." said Raffies,
smiling. But on our beamends we are !;
We would do a good deal for a thou
sand pounds apiece. eh, Bunny?"
Anything" murmured.
The solicitor raped his desk.
"l'll tell you what ! want you to do.
You can but refuse It's illegal, but it's
illegality in a good cause; that's the
risk, and my client is prepared to pay
for it. He will pay for the attempt, in
case of failure; the money is as good
as yours once you consent to run the
risk. Ny client is Sir Bernard Deben-
ham, of Broom Hall, Esher."
Il know his son." / remarked.
Raffles knew him, too, but said Moth
ing, and his eye drooped disapproval in
my direction. Bennett Addenbrooke
turned to me.
Then" said he, You have the privi-
lege of knowing one of the most COM
plete young blackguards about town,
and the fons ct origo OF the whole
trouble. As you know the son. you
may know the father, too. at all events
by reputation; and in that case /
needn't tell you that he is a very pc
culiar man. He lives alone in a store
house of treasures which no eyes but
his ever behold He is said to have
the finest collection of pictures in the
south of England, though nobody ever
sees them to judge; pictures, hddles,
and furniture are his hobby, and he is
undoubtedly very eccentric. Nor can
one deny that there has been consider
able eccentriciry in his treatment of his
son. For years Sir Bernard paid his
debts, and the other day, without the
slightest warning, not only refused to
do so any more. but absolutely stopped
the lads allowance. Well, I'll tell you
what has happened"
The lawyer drew his chair nearer
ours, and leaned forward with a hand
on either knee.
"On Tuesday of last week | had a
telegram from Sir Bernard; was to
go to him at once. l found him wait
ing for me in the drive; without a
word he led me to the picture gallery,
which was locked and darkened, drew
up a blind, and stood simply pointing
to an empty picture frame. II was a
long time before l could get word
out of him. Then at last he told me
that that frame had contained one of
the rarest and most valuable pictures
in England-in the world-an original
Velasquez. They say at the National
Gallery that the picture is practically
priceless. And young Debenham has
sold it for FIVE thousand poundsl"
THE deuce he has," said Rafflcs.
inquired who had bought it.
"A Queensland legislator OF the name
of Craggs-the Hon. John Montagu
Craggs, NJ. L. C, to give him his full
title Not that we knew anything
about him on Tuesday last; we didn't
even know for certain that young Deb
enham had stolen the picture. But he
had gone down for money on the Mon
day evening, had been refused, and it
was plain enough that he had helped
himself in thi; way; he had threatened
revenge, and this was it. Indeed, when
l hunted him up in town on the Tues
day night, he confessed as much in the
most brazen manner imaginable But
he wouldn't tell me who was the pur-
chaser, and finding out took the rest of
the week; but l did find out, and a
nice time I've had of it ever since!
Backward and forward between Esher
and the Metropole, where the Queens
lander is staying. sometimes twice a
day; threats, offers, prayers, entreaties,
not one of them bit of goodp
But" said Raffles, surely it's clear
case? The sale was illegal; you can
pay him back his money and force him
to give the picture up"
Exactly; but not without an action
and public scandal, and that my cii-
ent declines TO face. | am 10 get it
back by fair means or foul He gives
me carte blanche in the matter, and, |
verify believe, would throw in a blank
check if asked. He offered one to the
Queenslander, but Craggs simply tore
it in two; the one old boy is as much a
character as the other, and between
the two of them Pm at my wits end"
"And you wish US to steal this pic
ture?"
1t was magnifcently said; the lawyer
flushed from his hair to his collar.
Il knew you were not the menp' he
groaned. Il never thought of men of
your stampl But it's not stealing" he
exclaimed heatedly; 'it's recovering
stolen property. Besides, Sir Bernard
will pay him his FIVE thousand as soon
as he has the picture; and, you'll see,
old Craggs will be just as 10th to let il
come out as Sir Bernard himself. No.
no-it's an enterprise, an adventure, II
YOU hke-but not stealing"
"You yourself mentioned the law"
murmured Raff1es.
"And the risk" l added.
I'VE pay for that" he said once