The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
Two thousand apiece" said Rafaes,

Quarter to eight. There will be
telegram from me saying / can't turI
up. He's a terror to talk, you'll hav,
no difficulty in keeping the ball roll
ing; but head him off his picture fo
all you're worth. If he offers to show
it to you, say you must 60"
"Where shall / find you when ] ge
away
Il shall be down at Esher hope tt
catch the o:s5." >.
But surely / can see you again thi
afternoon?" / cried in a ferment, fol
his hand was on the door. I'm no
half coached up yeti 1 know | shall
make mess of it
Not you," he said again, but
shall if | waste any more time. I've go
deuce of a lot of rushing about tC
do yet. Why not come down to Eshci
yourself by the last train. Thats.it-
down you come with the latest news
I'll tell old Debenham to- expect yot
he shall give us both bed. By Joye
he won't be able to do US too well j
he's got his picture"
"IfI" | groaned as he nodded hi
adieu; and he left me limp with ap
prehension, sick with fear, in a per
fectly pitiable condition OF pure stag
fright.
For, after all. / had only to act m.
part; unless Raffles failed where hi
never did fail, unless Raffies the nea
and noiseless was for once clumsy anC
inept, all | had to do was indeed tc
smile and smilc and be villain
practiced that smile half the afternoon
| rehearsed' putative parts IN hypothe
tical conversations. / got up stories.
dipped in book on Queensland at tn,
club. And at last it was 7:45. and
was making my bow TO a somewhat el.
DERBY man with a small bald head anc
a retreating brow.
so you're Mr.. Raffies' fricnd," sait
he, overhauling me rather rudely witt
his light small eyes. Seen anything
of him? Expected him carly to show
me something, but he's never come"
No more, evidently, had his telegram
and my troubles were beginning early
said ! had not seen Raffles since
O'Clock, telling the truth with unctior
while | could; even as we spoke thert
came a knock at the door; it was tn,
telegram at last, and, after reading i
himself, the Queenslander handed it t.
me.
Called out of town. he grumbled
Sudden illness of near relative!
well" he continued, Il suppose /
can't be helped. Don't know why h
couldn't come and have his dinner first
Well, must just dine without him, ant
he'll have to buy his pig in poke aftel
all. Suppose, you know what he cam
to see me about? Sorry / shan't Sc
him again, for his own sake. l lik
Raffies-took to him amazingly. He
cynic. Like cynics. One myself
Rank. bad form of his mother or hi
aunt, and L hope she will go and kici
the bucket"
But never shall l forget the privat,
agonies OF the situation, the listening t
my host with one ear and for Rattle
with the other! Once | heard him
though the rooms were not divided b.
the old-fashioned folding doors, anC
though the door that did divide then
was not only shut, but richly curtained
| could have sworn | heard him once
split my wine and laughed at the toI
of my voice at some coarse sally of my
hosts. And l heard nothing more
CdIS "CIC Oii lllC SNl LII
later, to my horror, when the waiter
had finally withdrawn, Craggs himself
sprang up and rushed to his bedroom
without word. | sat like stone till ht
returned.
Thought l heard a door CO." he said
Must have been mistaken I'M
agination : gave me quite a turn
Raffles tell you priceless treasure l go
in there?"
With the confidential garrulity of ;
man who has dined too we'll, he plunged
into his darling topic, and looked pas
him AT the clock. 1t was only quar-
ter to ten.
In common decency i could not g
yet. So there | sat and learned wha
had originally fired my hosts ambition
to possess what he was pleased to call ;
real, genuine, twin-screw, double-fun
nelled, copper-bottomed old master"
But you must see it. Next room
This way" he said.
Isn't it packed up?" | inquired has
tiIy.
Lock and key. That's all"
PRAY don't trouble / urged.
Trouble be hanged" said he. Conn
along"
And all at once | saw that to resis
him further would be to heap suspicion
upon myself against the moment of i'm
pending discovery. | therefore followed
him into his bedroom without furthei
protest, and suffered him first to show
me the iron map case which stood il
one corner: he took a crafty pride il
fl1ts ra~antarto a-l II tI,1,,1i,k h. ,,-at,1S
never cease descanting on its innocen
! appearance and its lock. II seemed al
interminable age before the key was il
the latter. Then the ward clicked, ant
my pulse stood still
BY Jove" l cried next instant
The canvas was in its place among
the maps!
Thought it would knock you," saiC
Craggs, drawing it out and unrollinl
it for my benefit. Grand thing, ain
ii? Worth fifty thousand pounds, my
boy-and / got it for hve!"
He dug me in the ribs, and seemed
in the mood for further condolences
My appearance checked him, and ht
rubbed his hands.
Heaven knows what / contrived tC
say at last. Struck speechless first BY
my relief, / continued silent from :
very different cause. A new tangle ot
emotions tied my tongue. Raffies hac
failed-Raffles had failed! Could l no
succeed? Was it too late? Was there
no way?
$50 long" he said, taking last looL
at the canvas before he rolled it up
so long till we get to Brisbane"
The futter / was in as he closed the