The Washington herald., 1914-07-19

here" he added, walking to the window
and pointing to the Norma lying off in
the moonlit bay. DO you see that
yaeht?"
Yes" said l. What of it,"
well, it is now just twelve minutes
after nidnight-and you will observe
that she has her steam up" he said.
A quick glance toward the vessel
showed that he was correct.
Does that suggest anything to your
mind?" he asked.
by JoveT l cried. you don't
mean"
81 mean that Lord Courtleigh and his
friend Capt. Stanhope are planning an
early departure, and in all probability
without any lingering farewells," said
! Rawson.
With the jewels?" I cried.
"Well-no. not this time" laughed
Rawson. Not SOS they'd notice it
that is, not unless go along with them. 3"
And with that he cast Mrs. Larrabee-
Williams collection OF gems on the
table.
Great heaven, Billie" said I, scarce
believing my eyes. 'Huh-how the dick
ems did you get 'em?"
Why, the manager gave them to me
for safe keeping" grinned Rawson. He
and | have been pals for a good many
years. and when Courtleigh and STAN
hope turned up here yesterday he wired
me to come at once. That's how hap
pen to be here You don't suppose l
could afford to have you as my guest
at the Riviera on S2,soo year, do you?"
But Stanhope and Courtleigh:" l de-
manded
"Old hands at wheedling old ladies out
of their possessions" said Rawson, and
the slickest little safe openers in the
business Their sweet faces have been
enshrined in my heart for many years"
Things now began to move rapidly.
J Rawson quickly changed his clothes, get
ting into a loose fitting walking suit,
and bade me do the same. The Jewels
he placed under the mattress of his bed,
after which we repaired by means OF the
servants staircase to the floor below,
where we were Immediately joined by
the manager. The night clerk was Sit
ting behind the counter smoking and
giving decided evidences of being about
to drop of to sleep.
Hes fixed all right" laughed Raw
son, as We passed him. An affable
guest. a courteous night clerk, and a
doped cigar-fne!" !"
We proceeded to a corner of the la
dies writing-room, whence we could get
a tolerably clear view of the office and
almost the full length of the broad
staircase leading to the floor above. and
sat down to a very slow, and very full
hour OF silence in the dark.
Here's where the watchful waiting
comes in" whispered Rawson, with a
quiet chuckle. Possess your soul in
patience and you'll see things"
Rawson, as usual, was right. for after
the expiration OF the hour. during which
time We enjoyed the spectacle OF the
night clerk topping over on to the floor
in a sleep as profound as that OF all
Seven Sleepers rolled into one, the figure
OF man suddenly appeared at the first
turn OF the staircase If1e was clad IN
full evening dress and walked down into
the office with an entire assurance OF
safety Once there, he gave a quick
glance about him, ran hastily to the side
OF the sleeping clerk. shook him vigor-
ously, and then. eliciting no response
from the drugged guardian OF the hotel,
he ran back to the foot of the stairs and
gave an almost imperceptible signal to
some one on the staircase above.
Instantly Stanhope came tripping
down, two steps at time, but as noise
less as panther, and with the other
no less a person than the noble Lord
Courtleigh himself-vanished into the
depths OF the managers private Office
1t seemed an eternity to me before any
body moved.
"Shush-shall l give the signal:" whis-
pered the manager.
No" said Rawson calmly. Give
EN- time. They'll be all of ten min
utes working out the combination"
1t was fairly good guess, for about
seven minutes had elapsed when the two
men appeared again. emerging from the
private Office with Mrs. Larrabee-Wil-
liams' jewel box in the hands OF Lord
Courtleigh.
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