The Washington herald., 1914-03-29
IL K-B BY XIX

they shut UP the place an come away.
An that's all till about 'alf an hour ago,
when / takes the manager his extry-
speshul Star; in about ten minutes he
comes running out with q note. an sends
me with 1t to Scotland Yard in hanson.
An that's all know. sIr-straight. The
coppers is up there now. and the tee, and
the manager. and they think their gent
Is about the place somewhere still Least,
I reckon that's their idea: but who he
is, or what they want him for. dunno"
Jolly interesting said Rafies- I'm
going up to inquire. Come on. Bunny;
there should be some fun
Beg yer .srdUn. Mr.. Raffies, but you
won't say nothing about me?'
Not 1; you're a good fellow. I won't
forget it If this leads to sport. SPORT"
he whispered a. we reached the landing.
1T looks like precious poor sport for
you and me, Bunny"
What are you going 10 dor
Il don't know. There's no time to
think. This, TO start with"
And he thundered on the shut door; a
policeman opened it. Raffies strode past
him with the air Of chief commission
recovered from his establishment. The
bare boards rang under US; in the bed
room We found a knot of officers stoop-
ing over the window ledge with a con-
Ia uraa he fret
to stand upright. and he greeted US with
q glare.
May ask what you gentlemen
want?" said he
I'VE want to lend a hand" said Raj
fes briskIy. We lent one once before,
and it was my friend here who took over
from you the fellow who SPLIT on all the
rest. and held him tight. surely tn at en-
titles him, at all events, to see any fun
that's going? As for myself. well, it's
true 1 only helped to carry you to the
house, but for old acquaintance I do
hope, my dear Mr.. Mackenzie, that you
will permit US to share such sport as
there may be. 1 myself can only stop a
few minutes. in any case"
Then yen not see much.- growIed the
detective, for he's not up here. Con-
stable, go you and stand at the foot O.
the stairs. and let no other body come
I'D on any consolidation; these gentle
men may be able to help US after ALL
That's kind OF you. Mackenzie" cried
Raffies warmly. But what is it all?
questioned a porter met coming down,
but could get nothing out OF him, ex-
cent that somebody had been to see these
rooms and nc since been seen himself" D."
Hes a man We want" said Macken-
zie. He's concealed himself somewhere
about these premises, or I'm vera much
mistaken. Dye reside in the Albany.
Mr.. Rafies?"
"I do"
will your rooms be near these
"on the next staircase but one"
Yell just have left them
Just"
Been in all the afternoon. llkely?"
Not all"
Then 1 may have to search your
rooms, sir. I am prepared to search
every room in the Albany! Our man
seems to have gone for the leads; but
unless he's left more marks outside than
in, or we find him up there I shall have
the entire building to ransack."
II will leave you my key" said Raj
fes at once. II am dining out. but I'll
leave it with the officer down below"
Il caught my breath in mute amaze
ment. What was the meaning of this
insane promise? 1t was wilful, gratui-
tous, suicidal; 1t made me catch at his
sleeve in open horror and disgust: but,
with a word of thanks, Mackenzie had
returned to his window sill. and We saun-
tered unmatched through the folding
doors into the adjoining room. Here the
window looked down into the courtyard;
1t was still open: and as We gazed out in
apparent idIensss, Rafiies reassured me.
It's all right, Bunny: you do what I
tell you and leave the rest to me. It's
you've got to do is to stick to these
chaps, especially II they search my
rooms; they mustn't poke about more
than necessary, and they won't if you're
there"
But where will you be? You're never
going to leave me to be landed alone?
IF I do. 1t will be to turn up trumps
at the right moment. Besides. there are
such things as windows, and Crawshay's
the man to take his risks. You must
trust me. Bunny; you've known me long
enough"
And you're going now"
There's no time to lose. Stick to
them, old chap; don't let them suspect
you, whatever else you do" His hand
lay an instant on my shoulder: then he
left me at the window, and recrossed the
room.
1--WE got to go now," heard him say;
but my friend will stay and see this
and I'll leave the gas on in my
rooms, and my key with the constable !
Good luck, Mackenzie: only
wish could stay"
"Good-by, SIR" came in a preoccupied
voice, "and many thanks.
Mackenzie was still busy at his win |
dow. and remained at mine, prey to !
mingled fear and wrath. for all my |
knowledge of Rafies and of his infinite |
rl,- I oil hnt II