16
THE BU2vDAT OBEGONIA, PORXLAOT,- JUOT ,11,
"RAFFLES, THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN"
By E. W. Hcrnung-, Author of "The Shadow of the
Rope," "The Rogue's March " Etc.
No. V. Nine Points of the Law
ELL.," said Raffles, "what do
W you make of It?"
I rcad the advertisement
once more betore replying. It was In tbo
last column of the Dally Telegraph, and
It 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.
"I think," said I "it's the most extra
ordinary advertisement that ever got into
print!"
Raffles smiled.
"Not quite all that. Bunny; still, extra
ordinary enough, I grant you."
"Look at the figure!"
"It is certainly large."
"And the mission and the risk!"
"res; the combination is frank, to Bay
the least of it. But the really original
point is requiring applications by tele
gram to a telegraphic address! There's
something in the fellow who thought of
that, and something in his game; with
one word he chokes off the million who
answer an advertisement every day
when they can ralso the stamp. My
answer cost me five bob; but then I pre
paid another."
"You don't mean to say that you've ap
plied?" "Rather," said Raffles. "I want two
thousand pounds as much as any man."
"Put your own name?"
"Well no. Bunny, I didn't. In point of
fact, I smell something interesting and
illegal, and you know what a cautious
chap I am. I signed myself Glass pool,
care of HIckey, 23 Conduit street; that's
my tailor, and after sending the wire I
went round and told him what to expect.
He promised to send the reply along the
moment it came. I shouldn't be surprised
if that's it!" ,
And he was gone before a double knock
on the outer door had done ringing
through the rooms, to return next minute
with an open telegram and & face full of
news.
"What do you think?" said he. "Se
curity's that fellow Addenbrooke. the po
lice court lawyer, and he wants to see me
lnstanter!
"Do you know him, then?"
"Merely by repute. I only hope he
doesn't know me. He's the chap who got
six weeks for sailing too close to the wind
in the Sutton-Wllmer case; everybody
wondered why he wasn't, struck off the
rolls. Instead of that, he's got a first
rate practice on tne seamy side,- and every
blackguard with half a case takes it
straight to Bennett Addenbrooke. 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
something shady at the bottom of It. The
odd thing is that I have long made up my
mind to go to Addenbrooke myself if acci
dents should happen."
VAnd you're going to him now?"
"This minute," said Raffles, brushing
his hat; "and so are you."
"But I came In to drag you out to
lunch."
"You shall lunch with me when we've
Keen this follow. Come on, Bunny, and
we'll choose your name on the way.
Mine's Glasspool, and don't you forget
it,"
Mr. Bennett Addenbrooke occupied sub
stantial offices in Wellington street.
Strand, and was out when we arrived;
out ne naa only just gone "over tne way
to the court": and five minutes sufficed
to produce a brisk, fresh-colored, reso
lutc-looklng man, with a very confident.
rather festive nir, and black eyes that
oponed wide at the sight of Raffles.
"Mr. Glasspool?" exclaimed the law
yer. "My name," said Raffles, with dry ef
frontery.
"Not up at Lord's, however!" said the
other, slyly. "My dear sir, I have seen
you take far too many wickets to make
any mistake!"
For a single moment Raffles looked
vonomous; then he shrugged and smiled,
nnd tho smllo grew into a little cynical
chuckle.
"So you have bowled me out in my
turn?" said he. "Well. I don't think
there's anything to explain. I am harder
up than I wished to admit under my own
name, that's all, and I want that thou
sand pounds reward."
"Two thousand." said the solicitor.
"And the man who Is not above an alias
happens to be just the sort of man I
want; so don't let that worry you, my
dear sir. The matter, however. Is of a
strictly private aud confidential char
acter." And he looked very hard at me.
"Quite so." said Raffles. "But there
was something about a risk?"
"A certain risk is involved."
"Then surely three heads will be better
than two. I said I wanted that thousand
pounds; my friend here wants the other.
"We are both cursedly hard up, and we go
into this thing together or not at alL
Must you have his name, too? I should
give him my real one. Bunny."
Mr. Addenbrooke raised his eyebrows
over the card I found for him; then he
drummed upon it with his llnger-nall.
and his embarrassment oxprcsscd Itself
in a puzzled smile.
"The fact is. 1 find myself in a diffi
culty," he confessed at last. "Yours is
the first reply I have received: people
who can afford to send long telegrams
don't rush to the advertisements in the
Daily Telegraph; but, on the other hand.
I was Hot quite prepared to hear from
men like yourselves. Candidly, and on
consideration. I am not sure that you are
the stamp of men for me men who be
long to good dubs! I rather Intended to
appeal to the er adventurous classes.'
gravely.
"But you respect the law?"
The black eyes gleamed shrewdly.
"We are not professional rogues, if
that's what you mean," said Raffles,
smiling. "But on our beam-ends we are;
we would do a good deal for a thousand
pounds apiece, eh, Bunny?"
"Anything!" I murmured.
The solicitor rapped his desk.
"I'll tell you what I want you to do.
You can but refuse. It's illegal, but it's
illegality in a good cause; that's the risk.
and my client Is prepared to pay for It.
He will pay for the attempt. In case of
failure; the money is as good as yours
once you consent to run the risk. My
client is Sir Bernard Debenham, of Broom
Hall, Esher."
I know his son," I remarked.
Raffles knew him. too, but said nothing.
and bis eye dropped disapproval in my di
rection. Bennett Addenbrooke turned to
ie.
"Then." said he, "you have the privi
lege of knowing one of the most complete
young blackguards about town, and the
fons et orlgo of the whole trouble. As
you know the son, you may know the
father, too, at all events by reputation;
and In that case I needn't tell you that
ho is a very peculiar man. He lles
alone in a storehouse of treasures which
no eyes but his ever behold. He is said
to have the finest collection of pictures
in the South of England, though nobody
ever seem them to Judgo; pictures, fid
dles and furniture are his hobby, and be
is undoubtedly very eccentric. Nor can
one deny that there has been considerable
eccentricity in his treatment of his son.
For years Sir Bernard paid his debts, and
the other day, without the slightest warn
ing, not only refused to do so any more,
but absolutely stopped the lad's allow
ance. Well, Til tell you what has hap
pened: but first of all you must know.
or you may remember, that I appeared for
young .Debenham in a little scrape he
got into a year or two ago. I got him off
all right, and Sir Bernard paid me hand
somely on the nail. And no more did I
hear or see of either of them until one
day last wcek."-
Tho lawyer drew his chair nearer ours
and leaned forward, with a hand on either
knee.
"On Tuesday of last week I had a tele
gram from Sir Bernard: I was to go to
him at once. I found him waiting for me
In tho drive; without a word he led me
to the picture gallery, which was locked
and darkened, drew up a blind, and stood
simply, pointing to an empty picture
frame. It was a long time before I could
get a word out of him. Then at last he
told me that that frame had contalnod
one of the rarest and most valuable pic
tures In England in tho world an orig
inal Velasquez. I have checked this."
said the lawyer, "and It seems literally
true; the picture was a portrait of the
Infanta Maria Teresa, said to bo one of
the artist's greatest works, second only
to another portrait of one of the Popes
In Rome so they told me at the Na
tional Gallery, where they had Its his
tory by heart. They say there that the
picture Is practically priceless. And young
Debenham has sold It for 526.000!"
"The deuce he has," said Raffles.
I Inquired who had bought It.
"A Queensland legislator by tho name
of Craggs the Honorable John Montagu
Craggs. M. L. C. to give him his full
title. Not that we knew anything about
him on Tuesday last; we didn't ever know
for certain that young Debenham had
stolen tho picture. But he had gone
down for money on the Mondaj evening,
had been refused, and It was plain enough
that he had helped himself In this way;
he had threatened .revenge, and this was
It Indeed, when l hunted him up in
town on the Tuesday night, he confessed
as much in the most brazen manner Imag
inable. But Jie wouldn't tell me who
was the purchaser, and finding out took
the rest of the week; but I did find, out.
and a nice time I've had of it ever jlnce!
Backward and forward between Esher
and the Metropole, where the Queens
lander is staying, somotimos twice a
day; threats, offers, prayers, entreaties,
not one of them a bit of good!"
"But," said Raffles, "surely it's a clear
case? The sale was illegal; you can pay
hlm back his money and force him to
give- tho picture up."
"Exactly: but not without an action
and a public scandal, and that my client
declines to face. He would rather lose
even his picture than have the whole
thing get into the paper: he has dis
owned his son, but he will not disgrace
him; yet his picture he must have by
hook or crook, and there's the rub! I am
to get it back by fair means or foul. Ho
gives me carte blanche in the matter,
and I verily believe would throw in a
blank check if asked. He offered one to
the Quconslander, but Craggs simply
tore it in two; the one old boy is as much
a character as the other, and between
the two of them I'm at my wlu end.'
"So you put that advertisement In tho
paperr said Raffles. In the dry tones he
had adopted throughout the interview
"As a last resort. I did."
"And you wish us to steal this picture?"
It was magnificently said; the lawyer
nusned from nis hair to His collar.
"I knew you were not the men!" he
groaned. "I never thought of men of
your stamp! But it's not stealing." he
exclaimed heatedly; "it's recovering
stolen property. Besides, Sir Bernard will
nay him his five thousand as soon as h
has the picture; and. you 11 see. old
Craggs will be just as loth to let It come
"A REAL. GENUINE. TWIX-BCREW., DOOBLE-FCXXELED. COFFER-BOTTOMED OLD MASTER."
-I WANT SM POUNDS AS XCCK AS ANY MAN."
out as Sir Bernard himself. No. no It's
an enterprise, an adventure, if you like
but not stealing."
"You yourself mentioned the law,"
murmured Raffles.
"And the" risk." I added.
"We pay for that." he said once more.
"But not enough." said Raffles, shaking
his head. "My good sir, consider what
It means' to us. You poke of those clubs:
we should not only get kicked out of
them, but put in prison like common
burglars! It's true we're hard up, .but It
simply isn't worth it at the price. Dou
ble your stakes, and I Her one am your
man."
Addenbrooke wavered.
"Do you think you cwM brlag It oft?"
"We could try-"
"But you have no"
"Experience? Well, hardly!"
"And you. would really run the risk for
four thousand pounds?"
Raffles looked at me. I nodded.
"We would," said he. "and blow the
odds!"
"It's more than I can ask my client to
pay," sold Addenbrooke. growing firm.
"Then It's more than you can expect us
to risk."
"You arc in earnest?"
"God wot!"
"Say three thousand If you succeed!
"Four -is our figure. Mr. Addenbrooke."
"Then I think it should be nothing if
you falL"
"Doubles or quits?" cried Raffles.
"Well, that's sporting. Done!"
Addenbrooke opened his lips, half rose,
then sat back in his chair and looked long
and shrewdly at Raffles never once at
me.
"I know your bowling." said he. reflect
ively. "I go up to Lord's whenever I
want an hour's real rest, and I've seen
you bowl again and again yes, and take,
the best wickets In England on a plumb
pitch. I don't forget the laKt Gentleman
and Players; I was there. You're up to
every trick every one. ... I'm in
clined to think that if anybody could
bowl out this old Australian .
Damme. I believe you're my very man!"
The bargain was cllnchrd at tho Cafe
Royal, where Bennett Addenbrooke in
sisted on playing host at an extravagant
luncheon. I remember that he took his
whack of champagne with tho nervous
freedom of a man at high pressure, and
have no doubt I kept him in countenance
j by an equal Indulgence: but Raffles, ever
an exemplar in suui uuiicis, was mure
abstemious even than his wont, and very
poor company to boot. I can see him
now. his eyes In his plate thlnklng-"-thinking.
I can see the solicitor glancing
from him to me in an apprehension of
which I did my best to disabuse him by
reassuring looks. At the close Raffles
apologized for his preoccupation, called
for an A, B. C timetable, and announced
his Intention of catching the 32 to Esher.
"You must excuse me, Mr. Adden
brooke." said he, "but I have my own
Idea, and for the moment I should much
prefer to keep It to myself. It may end
in a fizzle, so I would rather not speak
about it to either of you Just yet. But
speak to Sir Bernard I must, so will you
write me one line to him on your card?
Of course, if you -wish, you must come
down with me and hear what I say; but
I really don't see much point in it."
And as usual Raffles had his way.
though Bennett Addenbrooke showed some
temper when he was gone, and I myself
shared his annoyance to no small extent.
l could only tea mm tnat it was in the
nature of Raffles to be self-willed and se
cretive, but that no man of my acquaint
ance had half his audacity and determlna
tion: that J, for nty part, would trust him
through and through, and let him gang
his own gait every time. More I dared
not say, even to remove those chill mis
givings with which I knew that the law
yer went his way.
That day I raw no more of Raffles, but
a tolcgram reached me wrien I was dress
ing tor dinner:
"Be in your rooms tomorrow from noon
and keen rest of day dear. RAFFLES."
It' bad been cenl off from Waterloo at
So Raffles was back In town; at an ear
lier stage of our relations I should have
hunted him up then and there, but now I
knew better. His telegram meant that
he had no desire for my society that night
or the following forenoon; that when he
wanted me I should sec him soon enough.
And see him I did. toward 1 o'clock next
day. I was watching for blm from my
window In Mount street, when he drovo
up furiously in a hansom, and jumped
out without a word to the man. I met
him next minute at the lift gates, and he
fairly pushed me back Into my rooms.
"Five minutes. Bunny!" he cried. "Not
a moment more."
And he tore oft his coat before flinging
himself Into the nearest chair.
"I'm fairly on the rush," he panted:
"having the very devil of a time! Not a
word till I tell you air I've done. I set
tled my plan of campaign yesterday at
lunch. The first thing was to get In with
this man Craggs: you can't break into a
place like tho Metropole. it's got to be
done from the Inside. Problem one, how
to get at the fellow. Only one sort of
pretext would do It must be something to
do with this blessed picture, so that I
might sec where ht'd got It. and all that.
Well, I couldn't go and ask to see It out
of curiosity, and I couldn't go as a sec
ond representative of the other old chap.
and It was thinking how I could go that
made me such a bear at lunch. But I.
saw my way before we got up. If I
could only lay hold of a copy of the pic
ture I might ask leave to go and compare
it with, the original. So down I went tq
Esher to find out if there was a copy Jn
existence, and was at Broom Hall for ono
hour and a half yesterday afternoon.
There was no copy there, but they must
exist, for Sir Bernard himself (theres
'copy there!) has allowed a couple to be
made since the picture has been in his
possession. He hunted up tho painters'
addresses, and the rest of the evening I
spent In hunting up the painters them
selves: but their work had been done on
commission; one copy had gone out of
tho country, and I'm still on the track of
the other."
"Then you haven't seen Craggs yet?"
"Seen him and made friends with him,
and. if possible, he's tho funnier old cuss
of the two; but you should study 'cm
both. I took the bull by the horns this
morning, went In and lied like Ananias,
and it wan just as well I did the old
ruffian sails for Australia by tomorrow's
boat, I told him a man. wanted to sell
me a copy of the celebrated Infanta Ma
ria Teresa of Velasquez, that I'd been
down to tho supposed owner of the pic
ture, only to find that be had Just sold it
to him. You should have seen his face
when I told him that! He grinned all
round his wicked old head. 'Did old Deb
enham admit the sale?" says he; and when
I said ho had he chuckled to himself
for about five minutes. He was so
pleased that he did Just what I hoped
he would do; he showed me the great
picture luckily. It Isn't by any means
a large one also the case he's got It
In. It's an iron map-case, in which he
brought over the plans of bis land in
Brisbane: he wants to know who would
suspect it of containing an Old Master,
too? But he a had It fitted with, a new
Chubb lock, and I managed to take an
interest in the key while he was gloat
ing- over the canvas. I had the wax In
the palm of my hand, and I shall make
my duplicate this afternoon.'
Raffles looked at his watch and
jumped up, saying- he had given me a
minute too much.
"By the way." he added, "yon've got
to dine with me at the Metropole to
night
"I?"
"Yes; don't look so scared. Both of us
are Invited I swore yon were dining with
me. I accepted for us both; but I shan't
be there." . -
His clear eye-was upon me, bright with
meaning and with mischief. I Implored
him to tell me .what his meaning was.
"You will dine fn his private sitting-
room, said Rafflec "It adjoins his bed
roots. You -Mt k- Mm sfttlac as loss.
as possible, Bunny, and talking all the
time:
In a flash I saw his plan.
"You're going for the picture while
we're at dinner?"
"I am."
"It he hears you!"
"He shan't." '
"But if he docs?"
And I fairly trembled at the thought.
"If he docs." said Raffles, "there will
be a collision, that's all. Revolver would
be out of place in. the Metropole. but I
shall certainly take a life-preserver.
"But It's ghastly!" I cried, "To sit
and talk to an utter stranger and to
know that you're at work In the next
room!"
"Two thousand apiece," said Raffles,
quietly.
"Upon my soul, I believe I shall give It
away!"
"Not you. Bunny. I know you better
than you know yourself.
He put on his coat and bat.
"What time have I to be there?'- I
asked him. with a groan.
"Quarter to eight. There win be a tele
gram from me saying I can t turn up
He's a terror to talk; you'll have no dlf-
hlra, ana he'll have to buy hl3 pig In a
poke, after all. Mind touching that bell?
Suppose you know what he came to see
rae about? Sorry I snant see mm again,
for his own sake, I liked Raffles took to
him amazingly. He's a cynic lim cyn
ics. One myself. Hank Dad iorra ox nis
mother or his aunt, and I hope she'll go
and kick the bucket."
I connect these specimens ot nis con
versation, though they were doubtless de
tached at the time, and interspersed wun
remarks ot mine here and there They
filled the Interval until dinner was served,
and they gave mo an Impression of the
man which his every subsequent utter
ance confirmed. It was an Impression
which did away with all remorse for my
treacherous presence at his table. He
was that terrible type, the silly cynic, his
aim a caustic commentary on all things
and all men, his achievement mere vulgar
Irreverence and unintelligent scorn. Ill-
bred and ill-formed, ha had (on nis
own showing) fluked Into fortune on a
rise- In land: yet cunning he possessed.
as well as malice, and he chuckled till he
choked over the misfortunes of less as
tute speculators in the same boom. Even
now I cannot feel much compunction ror
my behavior by, the Hon. J. M. Craggs,
M. I. C.
But never shall .1 forget the private
agonies of the situation, the listening to
my host with one ear and for Raffles
with the other! Once I heard blm though
the rooms were not divided by the old-
fashioned folding doors, and though
the door that did divide them
was not only shut but richly cur
tained. I could have sworn I heard
him once. I split1 my wine and laughed
at the top of my voice at some coarse
sally of my host's. And I heard noth
ing more, thougn my ears were on tno
strain. But later, to my horror, when
the waltcy- had finally withdrawn.
Craggs himself sprang up and rushed
to his bedroom without a word. I sat
like stone till he returned.
"Thought I heard a door go." ha said.
"Must have, been mistaken
Imagination . gave me quite
a turn. Raffles tell you priceless treas
ure I got in there?"
It was the picture at last; up to
this point I had kept him to Queens
land and the making of his pile. I tried
to get him back tnere now. but in
vain. He was reminded of his great.
Ill-gotten possession. I said that Raf
fles hud Just mentioned It, and that
set him off. With the confidential
garrulity of a man who has dined too
well, ho plunged Into his darling- topic.
and I looked past him at the clock. It
was only a quarter to ten.
In common decency I could not go
yet. So there I sat (we were still at
port) and learnt what had originally
fired my host's ambition to possess
what he was pleased to call, a "real
genuine, twin-screw, double-funneled.
copper-bottomed Old Master;" It was
lo "go one better than some rival
legislator of pictorial proclivities. But
even an epltomo of his monologue
would be, so much weariness. Suffice
it that it ended inevitably in tho in
vitation I had dreaded all the evening-.
But you must see It. Next room.
This way."
"Isn't it packed up?" I Inquired has
tlly.
"Lock and key. Thats all.
"Pray don't trouble," I urged.
"'Trouble be hanged!" said he. "Come
along.
And all at once I saw tnat to resist
him further would be to heap sus
picion upon myself against the mo
ment of. impending discovery. I there
fore followed him Into his bedroom
without further protest and suffered
hln: first to show me the Iron map
case, which stood in one corner; ne
took a crafty pride In this receptacle.
and I thought he would never ccaje
descanting on its innocent appearance
and its Chubb's lock. It seemed an
Interminable age before the key was
In tho latter. Then the ward clicked
nnd my pulse stood still.
"By Jove!" I cried next instant.
The canvas was In its place among
the maps.
'Thought it would knock you, said
Cragg.?. "Jrawlng it out and unrolling:
It for my benefit. "Grand thing, aln
It? Wouldn't think It had been paint
ed 220 years? It has, thougn, my
word! Old Johnson's face will be
treat when he sees It; won't go brag
King- about his pictures much more.
Why. this one's worth all the pictures
In Colony o Queensland put together.
Worth 30.J00 pounds, my boy and
cot it for five!"
He dutr me in the ribs, ana seemed in
the mood fcr further confidences. My
annearance cneciteu mm. ana no
rubbed his nanus.
"If you take It like that, ne
chuckled, "how will old Jonnson take
it? Go. out and . hang hlmseit to nis
own clcturc-rods, I hope!
Heaven knows what I contrived to
Acuity In keeping the ball rolling; but
head him off his picture for all you're . last struck speechless first by
..V. is V, ffa-r, tr okAv If vntl OQ V" I J . .. . -
mv reller. l continued suont irom
worth. If he offers to show It you, say
you must go. He locked up the case elab
orately this afternoon, and there's no
earthly reason why he should unlock it
again In this hemisphere'
Where shall I find you when I get
away?"
I shall be down at Esher. I hope to
catch the 3:55."
"But surely I can see you again this
afternoon?" I cried in a ferment, for his
hand was on the aoor. "I'm not half
coached up yet! I know I shall make a
mess of it!"
"Not you," Jie said again, "but I shall It
I waste any more time. I've got a deuce
of a lot of rushing about to do yet, lou
won't find me at my rooms. Why not
come down to Esher yourself by the last
tram? Thats it down you come with
the latest news! I'll tell old Debenham to
expect you; he shall give us both a bed.
By Jove! he won t be able to do us too
well If he s got his picture."
"If!" I groaned as hq nodded his adieu;
and he left me limp with apprehension,
aide with fear, in a perfectly pitiable con
dlttbn of pure stage-fright.
For. after all. I had only to act my
part; unless Raffles failed where he never
did fall, unless Raffles the neat and noise
less was for once clumsy and inept, all I
had to do was indeed to "smile and smile
and be a villain." I practiced that smile
half the afternoon. I rehearsed putative
narts in hyoothetlcal conversations. I
irot up stories. I dipped in a book on
Queensland at the club. And at last It
was 7:43, and I was making my bow to a
somewhat elderly man with a smau, oaid
head and a retreating bow
"So you're Mr. Raffles' friend?" said
he, overhauling me rather rudely with his
light, small eyes. "Seen anything of
him? Exoected him early to show me
something, but he's never come."
No more evidently bad his telegram,
and mv troubles were beginning early. I
said I bad not seen Raffles sice 1 o'clock,
telling the truth- with unction when I
could: even as we spoke there came
knock at the door; it was the telegram
at last, and, after reading it himself, the
Queenslander handed it to at
"Called out of town!" he grumbled.
"Sudden illness of near relative! What
near relatives has he got?"
I knew of none, and for an instant I
quailed before the perils of Invention;
then I replied that I Ji&d never iet any
of his people, and again felt fortified by
my veracity.
"Thouxht you were bo sera pals?" said
he. with, (as I imagined) & gleam of arcs
pldon in bis crafty little eyes.
"Only In town.' said I. "I've never
been, to his place."
"Well." he growled. "I sappose it can't
be helped. Don't knew why he celdn't
come and have hi dinner first. LHte to
see the deathbed I'd go to wttfeettC sty
dinner: it's a full-ski billet. K yoa sek
jm. Jl'elL xwut Jwt dte .wKJMvt
very different cause. A new tangle of
emotions tied my tongue. Raffles had
failed Raffles had failed! Could
tint succeed Was It too late? WaJ
them no way?
So long." he . said, taking a last
irvnlc at the canvas before he rolled it
iit "so lonir till we get to Brisbane,
Tho flutter 1 was in as no ciosea
the case!
"For the last time." he went on. as
his keys jingled back into his pocket.
"It goes straight into the strong-room
on hoard."
For the last time! If I could only
send him out to Australia with only
Its legitimate contents in his precious
mao-case! If I could but succeed
where Raffles had failed!
We returned to the other room.
have no notion how long he talked
or what about- Whisky and soda-water
became the order of the hour. I scarce
ly touched it. but he drank copiously,
and before It I left him incoherent.
And the last train for Esher was the
11:30 out of Waterloo.
I took a hansom to my rooms. I was
back at the hotel 1n 13 minutes. I
walked upstairs. The. corridor was
empty: I stood an instant on the sit
ting-room threshold, heard a snore
.within, and admitted mysWf softly
with my gentleman's own key. wnJc'n
It had been a very simple matter to
take away with me.
Cruggs never moved; he was
stretched on the sofa fast asleep. But
not fast enough for me. I saturated my
handkerchief with the chloroform I
had brought, and I laid it gently over
Is moutn. Two or three stertorous
breaths, and the man was a log.
I removed the handkerchief; I ex
tracted the keys from his pocket. In
less than five minutes I put them back,
after winding the picture about my
body beneath my Inverness cape. I
took some whisky and soda-water b
fore I went.
The train was easily caugnt so
easily that I trembled for ten minutes
In my first-class smoking carriage In
terror of every footstep on the plat
form. In unreasonable terror till the
end. Then at last I sat back , and lit
a cigarette, and the lights of Waterloo
reeled out behind.
Some men were returning from the
theater. I can recall their conversation
even now. They wore disappointed with
tho pleco they had seen. It was one of
tho later Savoy operas, and they spoko
wlsfully of the days of "Pinafore"
and "Patience." One of them hummed a
stave, and there was an argument as
to whether the air was out or pa
tience" or the "Mikado. They all got
out at Surblton, an I was alone with
my triumph for a few intoxicating
minutes. To think that I had succeed
ed where Raffles had failed! Of all our
adventures that was the first in whlcn
I had played a commanding part; -and.
of them all. this was Infinitely the least
discreditable. It left me without a con
scientious qualm; I had but robbed a
robber, when all was said- And I had
dono It myself, smgie-nanaea ipse
egomet! .
T nlctured Raffles, his surprise, ms ae-
llght. Ho would think a little more ot me
In the future. And mat iuiure, it suoum
be different. We had 2000 aplece-surely
enough to start afresh as honest men
and all through me!
Tn a clow I sprang out at Esher, and
took the one belated cab that was waiting
under the bridge. In a perfect fever I
beheld Broom Hall, with the lower story
still lit up. and saw the front aoor open
as I climbed the steps.
Thought it was you. said Jttauie3
cheerily. "It's all right- Theres a Deo
for you. Sir Bernard's sitting up to snaKo
your hand."
His good spirits disappointed me. But
I knew the man: he was one of those who
woar tha briehtest smiles in tne piacKct
hour. I knew him too well by this time
to be deceived.
"I've got It!" I cried in -bis car. i. ve
got it!" t ,
Got what? ne asicea me, burpyiug
back.
"The picture!"
"What?"
"Tho oleture." He showed it me. You
had to go without it: I saw that. So 1
determined to have It, And hero it is."
"Let's see." said Raffles gnmiy.
T threw oft my capo and unwound the
canvas from about my body. While I
wna dolnsr so an untidy old gentleman
made his appearance in the hall and stood
looking on with raised eyebrows.
Ixoks pretty iresn xor an oiu nusier,
doesn't she?" said Raffles.
His tone was strange. I could oniy
suppose that he was Jealous of my suc
cess.
So Craggs said. I hardly looKed at it
myself."
Well, look now look cioseiy. ay Jove,
I must have faked her oeuer man x
thought!"
"It's a copy!" I cried.
"It's the copy," he answered. "It's the
copy I've been tearing all over the. country
to procure. It's the copy I faked back
and front, so that, on your own showing,
It Imposed upon Craggs, and might have
made him happy for life. And yqu go and
rob him of that!"
I could not speak.
"How did you manage it?" inquired Sir
Bernard Debenham.
"Have you killed him?" asked Raffles
sardonically.
I did not look at him; I turned to Sir
Bernard Debenham, and to him I told
my story, hoarsely: excitedly, for It was
all that I could do to keep from breaking
down. But as I spoke I became calmer,
and I finished Jn mere bitterness, with the
remark that another time Raffles might
tell me what he meant to do.
"Another time!" he cried instantly. "My
dear Bunny, you speak as though we
were going to turn burglars for a living!"
"I trust you won't," said Sir Bernard,
smiling, "for you are certainly two very
daring young men. Let us hope our friend
from Queensland will do as he said, and
not open his map-case till he gets back
there. He will find my cheque awaiting
him. and I shall be very much surprised
if he troubles any ot us again."
Raffles and I did not speak till T was
in the room which had been prepared for
me. Nor was I anxious to do so then.
But he followed me and took my hand.
"Bunny." said he, don't you be hard
on a fellow! I was In the deuce of a
hurry, and didn't know that I should ever
get what I wanted In time, and that's a
fact. But It serves mo right that you
should have gone and undone one ot tha
best things I ever did. As for your handi
work, old chap, you won't mind my say
ing that T didn't think you had it in
you. In future "
"Don't talk to me about the future!"
I cried. "I hate the whole thing! I'm
going to chudk it up!"
"So am I." said Raffles, "when I've
i made my pile.'
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ft