The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
tCcpyright. isll1
0ykTELL," said Rafies. what do
+" you make of it?s
tocpyheht. 1914,

once more before replying. 1t was in
the last column of the Daily Telegraph,
and il ran:
TWO THOUSAND POUNDS REWARD
The above sum may be earned by any
one qualified to undertake delicate mis-
sion and prepared to run certain risk
Apply by telegram. Security. London.
q think" said /, "it's the most ex-
traordinary advertisement that ever got
into printi"
Rafles smiled
Not quite all that, Bunny; still, ex-
traordinary enough, ! grant you.
Look at tie figurep
1t is certainly large"
And the mission-and the risk"
Yes; the combination is frank. to
say the least of it. But the really orig
inai point is requiring applications by
telegram to a telegraphic addressl !
There's something in the fellow who
thought of that, and something in his
game; with one word he chokes of
the million who answer an advertise
ment every day-when they can raise
the stamp. My answer cost me five
bob; but then l prepaid another"
'You don't mean to say that you've
applied?"
Rather" said Rafies. Il want two
thousand pounds as much as any man."
"Put your own name"
"Well-no, Bunny, l didn't. In point
of fact l smell something interesting
and illegal, and you know what a eau
tious chap l am. signed myself Class
pool, care of Hickey, 3S Conduit street !;
that's my tailor, and after sending the
wire | went round and told him what
TO expect. He promised to send the
reply along the. moment it came. l
shouldn't be surprised if that's it,"
And he was gone before a double
knock on the outer door had done ring
ing through the rooms, to return next
minute with an open telegram and a
face full of news.
What do you Think" said he. "Se-
curity's that fellow Addenbrooke, the
police court lawyer, and he wants to see
me instanter"
DO you know him, them"
Merely by repute. / only hope he
doesn't know me. He's probably the
one man who would have the cheek to
put in an advertisement like that, and
the one man who could do it without
exciting suspicion. It's simply in his
line; but you may be sure there's some
thing shady at the bottom of it. The
odd thing is that have long made up
my mind to go to Addenbrooke myself
if accidents should happen
"And you're going to him now?"
This minute" said Rafles, brushing
his hat; "and so are you"
Mr.. Bennett Addenbrooke occupied
substantial Offices in Wellington street,
Strand, and was out when We arrived !;
but he had only just gone "over the
way to the COURT" and FIVE minutes
suficed to produce a brisk, fresh-col-
ored, resolute-loobing man, with a very
confident, rather festive air, and black
eyes that opened wide at the sight of
Rafies.
"Mr.-Glasspool?" exclaimed the law
yer.
my name," said Rafies, with dry
effrontery.
Not up at Lords, however," said
the other, slyly. 'My dear sir, have
seen you take IA too many wickets to
make any mistake"
For a single moment Rafles looked
venomous; then he shrugged and
smiled, and the smile grew into a little
cynicle chuckle.
so you have bowled me out in my
turn" said he. well, l don't think
there's anything to explain. l am hard
er up than l wished to admit under my
own name, that's all, and l want that
thousand pounds reward"
Two thousand" said the solicitor.
THE matter, however, is of a strictly
private and confidential character" And
he looked very hard at me.
Quite So" said Raffies. "But there
was something about a risk?"
"a certain risk is involved"
Then surely three heads will be bet
ter than two. l said / wanted that
thousand pounds; my friend here wants
he other. Must you have his name,
too? should give him my real one,
Bunny"
Mr.. Addenbrooke raised his eyebrows
over the card l found for him; then he
drummed upon it with his finger nail,
and his embarrassment expressed itself
in a puzzled smile
THE fact is, find myself in diff
hculty," he confessed at last yours
is the first reply / have received; peo-
pie who can afford to send long tele-
grams don't rush to the advertisements
in the Daily Telegraph; but, on the
other hand, l was not quite prepared
to hear from men like yourselves. Can
didly, and on consideration, l am not
sure that you are the stamp of men for
mc-mcn who belong to good clubsI I