The Washington herald., 1914-04-19

not be wanted for a day or so, and
after all it isn't for you to give the ex-
PLANTATION. 1t would be highly suspi-
cious if you did"
$50 it would" | agreed.
Then will you trust me to hit on
something-if possible before morning
in any case by the time it's wanted?
won't fail you, Bunny"
That settled it. | gripped his hand
without another word. and remained on
guard over the three sleepers while Raf-
flies stole upstairs. He let himself out,
and told me aftcrward that the first per-
son he encountered in the street was
the constable on the beat. Raffles
wished him good morning, as we'll he
his face and hands; and in the prize
fighters great hat AMI fur coat he might
have marched round Scotland Yard IL
sell, in spite OF his having the gold
brick from Sacramento in one pocket,
the silver statuette OF Mcguire in the
other and round his waist the jeweled
belt presented TO that worthy by the
State of Nevada.
1t was daybreak when l gave the
alarm with bell and telephone. In a few
minutes we had the house Congested
with disheveled domestics. irascible doc
tors, and arbitrary minions OF the law.
II told my story once, told it a dozen
times, and all on an empty stomach.
And in the end | was permitted to re-
tire from the scene until required to give
further information, or to identify the
prisoner whom the good police conf
IDENTIFY expected to make before the day
was out.
| d owe straight to the fat The por-
ter flew to help me out OF my hanson.
His face alarmed me more than any |
had left in Half-moon street.
Your fats been entered in the night,
sir" he cried. The thieves have taken
everything they could lay hands on
Thieves in my fiat" | calculated
a jimmy" said the porter. 1T was the
mdkman who found it out. There's
constable up there now"
| rushed upstairs without waiting for
the lift. The invader was moistening
his pencil between laborious notes in
fat pocketbook: he had penetrated no
farther than the forced door | dashed
past him in a fever. | kept my trophies
in a wardrobe drawer specially fitted
with patent lock. The lock was brok-
en-the drawer void.
Something valuable, SIR" inquired
the intrusive constable at my heels.
Yes, indeed-some old family silver"
| answered. 1t was quite true. But the
family was not mine.
And not til. then did the truth fash
across my mind. Nothing else OF value
had been taken But there was a mean
ingleSs litter in all the rooms. | turned
to the porter. who had followed me up
from the street; it was his wife who
looked after the fiat
Get rid of this idiot as quick as you
can | whispered. I'm going straight
to Scotland Yard myself Let your wife
tidy the place while I'm gone. and have
the lock mended before She leaves. I'm
going as am. this minute -
And 60 | did. in the first hanson |
could fnd-but not straight TO Scotland
Yard l stopped the cab in Piccadilly
on the way.
Old Ratfles opened his own door TO
ME. cannot remember finding him
fre>her, more immaculate. more delight
ful to behold in every way. Could |
paint picture OF Ratrles with something
other than my pen. II would be as | saw
him that bright March morning. al his
open door in the Albany. i trim. slim
figure in matutinal gray. cool and gay
and breezy as inoarnate spring.
What on earth did you do il for?' |
asked within.
1T was the only solution" he answer
ed, handing me the cigarettes. 4 saw
It the moment | got outside
Il don't see il yet"
Why should a burglar call an inno-
cent gentleman away from home"
That's what we couldn't make out"
Il tell you | got it directly had left
you. He called YOU away in order to
burglc You. too, OF course!'
And Raffles stood smiling upon me
in all his Incompatible radiance and au-
dacitv.
But why me-" I asked. why on
earth should he burgle me-"
My dear Bunny. we must leave some
thing TO the imagination OF the police
But we will assist them to TACT or two
in due ceasOn. 1t was the dead OF night
when Mag,.ire first took u; to his house;
il was at the Imperial Boxing Club we
met him: and YOU meet queer fish at the
Imperial Boxing Club You may re.
membcr that he telcphoned 10 hI> man
tu prepare supper icy -. ard that YOU
and he discussed telephones and treas
urc as we marched through the midnight
streets. He was certainly huCking about
his trophies. and for the sake Of the
argument you will be good enough to
admit that YOU probably huckeI about
yours. What happens You are over
heard: you are followed: yu-I are work
cd into the same scheme, and robbed on
the SAINT night
And you really think this will meet
the case?"
Il am quite certain OF it. Bunny, so far
as it rests with US to meet the case al
all"
Then give me another cigarette. my
dear fellow. and let me push on to Scot.
land Yard
Raffies held up both hands in admirins
horror
Scotland Yard"
ITO give a false description of what
you took from that drawer in my ward.
robe"
y false description! Bunny. YOU have
no more to learn from me. Time va:
when wouldn't have let you 60 there
without me to retrieve a lost umbrella
let alone lost cause!"
And for once | was not sorry for Raj.
f1es to have the last unworthy word, a:
he stood once more at his outer dooi
and payly waved me dOWu the stairs