The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 2, 1905, Page 2

" THE ‘SAN' .FRANCISCO SUNDAY CAL ek o $EOULD HAVE S\WORN 1 HEARD HIM is the fifth of = serles of thir- teen mew stories entitied “Raffies, Amateur Cracksman.” own pecullar Sherlock Holmes in a for Rafies and widexpread s exercined his ard the deteetion represented as ® intellect and breeding who wying bis undoubted xenius to en- him to live by his wits sixth adventare of of the Emperor’—will appesr mext wonderful p Rafiles—"The - - TWINDING TRE PICTURE ABOUT My BOpY- too many wickéts to make him on Tuesday s for “certain, that. . stolen the picture. didn’t even-know young .Depenham had But he -had .gene down for monéy .on, the. Moriday: evening, » had .been refused, and it’ was plaim enough that he had helped himself in. this 2 he had threatened revenge, and this was tt. Indeed, when I nunted him up'in town on the ‘Tuesday night he conféssed as much in the most brazen manner.im- agitable. But he 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 since! Backward and forward betweer and the Metropole, where the,Que s staying, sometimes twice a day: ats, offers, prayers, entreaties,.’ not one of them a ‘bit of good! “But,” sald Raffiew, “eurely It's a clear 2 'The sale illegal; you van.pay, him back his money and force him to give the picture up,” 3 but not without an action and a public scandal, and that my client de- clines to ce. his picture than hayve: the ,whole get into the papers; he has di son, but he will not disgrace him; picture he must have by hook or croc and there's the rub! I am to get it back Dby fair means or foul. . He gives fe carte blanche in the matter, and I verily leve: would throw i a blank check 1f askeg. He offered one -to the Queens- tander, but Crasgi mply tofe it in two; the gne -0ld boy Is as much a charactor as tife other, and between the two of them: I'm ot my wits' end.” ¥ . *Sp_you put that advertisement in the papefs” said Raffles in ‘the dry tomes he had adopted throughout the interview. He would rather lose even thing 'As a last resort. 1 did “Aprd you wish us tq this pile- tore?” 1t- was magnificently sald; the lawyer" flashed from his hair to_his collat. you were not the ‘men!” le * “I never thought of-men of stump! But it's.not stealing,” he aimed heatedly Besides, Sir Bernard will v I s five thousand as soon.as he s the picture, and you'll tee; old (‘raggs will be just loth to let it come out-as Sir Bernard himse!f. No, no—it's an enterprise, an adventure, if you like— ot ‘stealing.” = vourself ~mentigned the Iaw,”’ murmured Raffles, .. . id the "1 added. - ~We pay for that,” he’sald once:miore. * “Lut riot enough,” said Raffles, shak- .ing his head.. “My good, sir, consider what it. means to us. You spoke-of those c¢lubs; we should, not only geét kicked out of- them, but.put in ‘prison like conimoa burglars! It's true.we're hard up, but it eimply isn't worth it at ‘the price.” Dou- ble your stakes, ard I.for one am your: Addenbrooke: wavered. *Do you ‘think you could bring it oft?" - “We could try.” 5 “But you have no'—— - “Experience? Well, hardl; ou would. really ‘ru the risk for “It's more than T can ask- my client fo- pay,” gald Addenbraoke, growjng firm. - - “Then it's. more than you caii expest us S . are in earngst?” . ° “God wat!™ X be- * “it's recovering-stol- . -of the evening I spent in Jold ¢ your card? Of course, if you wish, may . come down .with .me and - hear what T say: but I really don't see much point in M.’ g And as usual Raffles had his way, though Bennett Addenbrooke showed some temper: when he was gone, and .1 myself :shared lis ".anmoyance to Ro small extent.’I could only tell him that it was in the nature of Raffles to be self-willed and-secretiye, that no man of my acquaintance had half his audacity and determination; that I, for my part, would trust him through and through, and-let him gang hi# own g3it every time. to remove those chill misgivings with which I knew that the lawyer went his way. That day T saw no more of Raffles, but a telegram reached me when I was dressing for dinner: “Be in_ your rooms to-merrgw from noon and keep rest of day clear. 7t “RAFFLES.” 1t had been sept off from Waterloo at 6:42. So Raffles was back in town; at an carlier stage of our relations P should ave hunted him up then and there, but >w 1 knew better. His telegram meant t he had no desire for my society t night or the following forenoon; that when he wanted me I should see him soon enough. And see him I did toward 1 o'clock next day. I was watching for him from my window in Mount street, when he drove up furiously in a hansom, and jumped -out without a word to'the man. I met him next minute at the lift gates, and be fairly pushed ime back into my rooms. “Five minutes, Bunny Not a moment more." And he tore off his coat before fiing- ing 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 all I've done: I set- tled my plan of eampaign yesterday at Junch. The first thing was to ‘get in with this man Craggs: you can't break into a place like the Mefropole, it's got to be, done from the inside. Problem oné,. how to.get at the fellow. Only one sort of pretext weuld do—Iit must be something to do with. this blessed picture,.so that I might see where he'd got it, and all that. Well, I couldn’t go and ask to sée it out of curiosity, and I couldn't go as a second representa- tiye ‘of the other old chap. and I was thinking bow I could go that made me such a bear at lunch. - But I saw my 'way heforg we got up. If I could enly lay hold-of a copy- of the . picture .P niight ask leave to. ge and compare.it with the original. So down I went to " ‘he cried. Esher to find out if there was a copy in -existenge, and was at Broom Hall for-ane hour and a half yesterday aft- trnoon. There was:.no copy there, but they ‘must exist, fer Sir Bernard him- self- (there's ‘copy’ there!) has allowed a couple ‘to be made since the picture has been in his possession. He hunted 1p the-painters’ addresses, and the rést hunting up the .painters themselves; " but their work had been done on commission; one copy had gone out bf the country, : and I'm still on the track of the other.” “Then.you haven't seen (raggs yet? “Seen ‘him and- made friends with him, and, if possible, he's the funnfer s of the two; but you should study 'em both. . I took the bull by the More I dared not say, even ° said be.a collision, that's be out of place i shall certainly tak “But it's ghastly talk to an utter that yow're at work ir x ! “Two tnousand apiece,” said Raffles, quietly. “Upon my soul; I believe I shall givé it away “Not you, Bunny. L knaw you better than you know yourself. He put on his coat and his'hat “What “time have asked hjym, with a groan “Quarter -to 8 - There will granr from me saying I He's 3 tarror to talk, you'll ! culty it ‘keeping .the ball head him, oft his.ficture for ail worth. If he offers to show it yo you must go. - He locked up the case cluborately this afternoon, and there's no earthly why e should un- hemisphere. find you when I there?” I tele- up- am ®: but you're say be a t turn ave roili get away?” “I shall be down at E 1 hepe to rer. catch, the 9.55. “But syrely I can see again this afternoon?’ I crfed in a ferment his hand was on the door. “I'm not half coached up yet! I know I shdll make a mess of-it!" “Not you, ut I shal? if -1 waste any more T've got a deuce of a lot of rushing about-to do yet You \won't fiud me at my yoems. Way o Esher yoursely by the it—down you eome with the latest r I'll tell old Deben- ham to ekpect you shall ‘give us beth a bed. By Jove! he won't be abie to do us too wel] it he's got his plcture.” “1£r"* T groared as he nedded his adieu, dnd he left m¢ limp with apprehension, sick with fear in a pe ly pitiablé con~ dition of pure stage-fri For, after all, I had y to act my part, unless Raffles failed where he never did fail, unless Raifles, the neat and noise- less, was for once clumsy and inept, all I had to. dé was indeed to ‘“smile and smile and be a villain.” I practiced that smile half the afternoon. I rehearsed pu- tatiye parts in hypothetical conversa- tions. I got up storfes. I dipped im a book on Queensiand at the club. And at last it ‘was and I was making my bow to a somgwhat elderly man with a small, Bald head and a refreiting hrow. “So yeou're Mr. Raffles’ friend?” sald he, overhauling me rather rudely+ with his light, small eyes. “Seen anything of him? . Expected him early to show me something, but he's never come.” No more evidently had hig telegram, and mny .froubles were beginning ‘early. I said T had not seen Raffles since 1 o'clock, telling the truth with unction while I could; even as we spoke there came & khock at the door; it, was the telegrgm at last; and, after reading it himself, the Queenslander handed it to me. “Called - out of town he “Sudden illness, of near relative! gear relatives. has he got?” I knew of none, and for an imstant I quailed before the perils of . ipvenmtion, then I replied that.1 had ‘never ‘met any of his people, and again felt fortified by my verdeity. - “Thought you' were bosom pals?’ sidd he, with (as I imaginé) a gleam of sus- picion in his crafty little eyes y«in tawn," said I- ‘I've his place.” vou last traim? grumbled. What Hever “horns this morning. went .in and led 1ike Ananlas, and it was just as well 1 did—the old rifflan sails for Australia Ly td-morrow’s boat. I tofd him a man wantéd to_sell me a copy of the or.a sirgle moment Raffles Jopked venomous; -then be shrugged and smiled [ { the smile grew into a little cynical e kle _he_growled, “I suppose it can’t he cguidn't comé amd have his dinper first. Like to see the death-bed I'd go to without my Bay 3000 if- you succeed! S A our #s.our figute, Mr. Addenbrooke.” “Chen 1-think it should be"hothing ‘if you fail.” S Y S and chu know him. the ot g “’f‘;‘{:‘f"m]" s ¥ "Dbubles or quits?” cried Raffles. “Well, celebratéd Infanta Maria Teresa of Ve- -dinner: it's a full-skin billet, it you ask y ] : Bt i : that's sporting. -Dohe!” * i . lasquez, that I'd been down to the sup- me. Well, must j line without him, Knidw ok LARYHNNg to sxplsin. ) - Atidénbrooke opened his Hps, half rose, posed awner df the picture, only to fihd. and he'll have to buy Ais pig in a peks E 3 ’ e 26 hat's -all, and I-want 2 ; : SR G Z o 3 . .. | then sat back in his chair and ‘looked that he had just sold it “o hjm. You after ali. Mind touching that bell” Sup- w £ -case; . v sy smiilirig. “But on our beam-ends fre dra:’ allowatice. Welk, T'll tell you what has long hnd, shrewdly at Raffles—never-once shquld have seen his face when I.teld pose you kmow what he cafe to ses me dere, wasn't S oAl i the solicitor. e:would ‘do 3 good deal for.a thousand. hgppened: -but first’ of all you must At me : ) . +..- -him that! He grinned all round his about? SOrry I shan't sce him again, for o 1o mat above an aligs PUunds aplece, eh, Bunny?' """ know,"or- you may iremember, that I _“I know ybur bowling" -sald he .re- Wicked old head, 'Did old Debenham ‘his own. sake I liked Raffles-—took te et B ekt e AR AT nything,” I murmared. .. appeared for young Debenham'in a lit-. flectively. “I.ko‘up to Lard’s whenever I admft the sale” says he; and when I him anmzingly. He's a cynle. Like cyn- e s GGt ot Ehat watty- %, T 16 solicitor ‘rapped his desk tle 'scrape he got into‘a year or two Want an hour's rpal rest, and I've seen said he had he chuckled to hiursely ics. Ome myself. Rank bad form of his The matter, howeser, Is of .a 1L tell you, what I want-you to dg. agn, I ot Him off .all right: and Sif You bowl agall and again—yes, and-take :for about five minutes. Ie was mother or'his aunt. and I hope she will x > Rernard the best wickets in England on & plumb 'Pleased that Re'did just wimt I hoped’ go and kick the bucket You can, but'refuse.” It's {llegal, but it's ;l_u:g.ul:z‘\- in good’ cause; that's - the . risk, and my client s prepared. to pay Bernal .paid me handsomely on the nail”" And no_more did I hear or see of . either of them until one day last week." rivate he would do: he showed me the- great. 1 ¢ ¢t these specimens of his o pleture—luckily, it isn't by any means g versation, though they were doubtless de- pitch.” I don't fqrget the- last Gentleman and Players; I was there.- Xou're up to € “But there ¥ _ . : wils somethink aboAIE & Pk - .for it. He will pay for the attemptr In. The lawyer drew hif chalr neaver-otr SVEry - trick—every ome. ®* * I'm {n- @ large one—dlso the case he's got it tachedat the time, and" interspersed with - e M B ™A certain ‘rigk is involved.” . case of failure; the- money is-as good as and leaned . forward, with a hand on- clined to think. that If anybody could In. It's an Iron map-tase. in which he remarks of mine here and there. They vy & once you condent to‘run the risk. cither knee. . s : powi out this ajd Australian * ¥ * Dam- brouglit over the plans’ of his land in filled the intertal until dinner was served, “Then surely three heads will De.better n two. nt of i Brisbane; he wants'te know who would suspect it of containing an Old Master, too? But he's had It fitted with 2 new me, I belleve you're’ my very man!" The bargdin was clinched at_the Cafe Royal, where Bennett Addenbrooke in and they gave me an impression of the * than which his every subsequent ance confirmed. It was My. client s Str Bernard Debenham, bf" Broom Hall, Esher.” > “F know his ‘son, _""On Tuesday ‘of last week I°had a tele- gram from Sir Bernard; I‘was to ga to I sald I wanted that thousand friend here wants the other. long ma o -Addenbrooke-my utter- an impression 1 remarked. ~ apper y hard up, and we g0 3 2 R g I tound hit . walting for- * Chubb 1 - . By 4 e, b Raffles knew : 7 _ him at once, oun m_walting for. gisted on playing host af an extra Chiibdb lock, -and I managed to take an which did away with ali remorse g to W e 1 g together. or not at-all. o _R“‘dsl new him, too, but sajd noth-. jo 4 the drive; without a word he led gant luncheon.. I remember that he interest in the key while he was gloat- {reschérous presence at his Lnf" = Raffics, brushing 'g,f.l i have .his' nanfe, teo? I shuld birl iy £ ‘t‘f'o:” dg“’””f disapproval in mu to the picture’ galiery, which Was tople his whack of champagne with the Ing over the canvas. I had the wax was that terrible type, the sfi‘w C n’f-‘ my real one, Bunny y ction. Bennett 'Addenbrooke jocked and darkened, drew up.a blind, p dn the palm of my hand, and I shafl | e e o are vou . ne nervous freedom of a .man at "Nigh his aim a caustic commentary on all et % to vou .out to .MP _Addenbrooke -raised ‘his® ey¢brows . - and stood sim 3 . ? e o I - o H 4o 1] ply pointing té an empty pressure, and have” no doubt I kept make my duplicata this afternoon. thin, all men, his achi \_:;’ A I DT e .:.‘,:,.‘315, L:l.ln! 'flou:fll[:l);.xfur%“;‘?:n dr‘x]e el knf]&l‘l’t}n;ebnyoxt?;:\‘;ent]gztpcr:g- }nct\{\'le fralrgc. tIz'.wua g lon: tltmah::e- him in countenance by. an equal indul- 1 RM!;:! Moke;l at’ hi® watch and \-uls?r-anurr\'emncn and '15.1’35.:2? & 1 m i ® 1 ¥ = fngen : e ~. fore could get a word out, of him. gence; but Rafffes, ever an exemplar jumped up, saving he had @ b 1li-bred and 1ll-inform en, this ‘Uf'fl:m- on; Buniny, ‘as zv;‘ljlmrrn:lmvn( expressed- ifself pleltc‘.)ou;ig blackguards about town. Then at last he told me fhat that ffame in such matters, was more abatemioqs minute too Tmnah w Ryes :;:"y‘,i. awnr;hn:?:v fl:x“l‘ed i:?‘; ::nh'd P pis e g mile, o T 8nd ek fose e drikop ut ¢ tis Wliie: hied cotitained gne f SR RISt Rnd it L eveit ShER STHE ol tabevery fodr LTRSS GSBIL RO S0 deaths. RRNSRIN. uy. DR S U8 ESENYC CSpMERE Das- o't iy 1.f’e<:ed g “3: “Your?ig fll;x- 'km?w fhe m)lggrkxéow the son, you may valuable pictures h,\ the company to boot. 1 can see him now, are invited—i swore you were dining w‘ilh . gessed, as well as malice, and he chuckled brooke cupied sub- Brst reply 1 Bave received: people w‘hg reputation; and in otol;ntt“czlgle ex"’?e!:d:'{ Av?r‘g::nm'?fls'“‘xd ‘t;'“!‘:‘::;;t ?‘/hd“l: i eyl“ oileks pltah“_m‘nkm!_tmnk- ot PSRN SRR L abawt. Bl he chokecliunToe miathen St ten 3 k 3 € 3 e ; a G s, sal e per, ‘‘ane ing. can see the solicitor glancing be there.” . culat n t in Wéllington street, C8 ord to €end long telegrams don‘t tell you thathe is a very pecullar man i s H 1 clegr eye was upon B e T G 5 “meo.b“m:' - 2 y £ c an & ot . s T 3 rally true; the picture was a from him to me in an apprehensfon of Hix eye was me. 1 teel E 2% out when we arrived, . rush. o the advertisements in the Daily He lives'«lone In a storéhouse of treas- portfmit of the Infanta Marla ~Teresa, which I did ‘my best fo disabuse him meaning-and with mischlef. ‘]flfl:‘pl;'xlgg 53:":::3,- 3::31“" etfy mhflou, J. ; ust Telegraph. but, on’ the ot: ures which gone “over the figntl, T was no eyes'but his ever be- siid to be one of the artist's greatest b ¢ Aroue ens he oth . z > v, reassuring 10oks. At the close Raf- him.to tell me whal !u. m. “ragss. A Aol If:”"k\ x’:c‘:n’:;n?zg §'f'l»r'lfiii-‘c!"'<":;§?ai§ h';mé fxmmmn:’r:ig:l;e ?flg&‘flg;l;‘flirz h:“'EJho nnetslv. col; works, qerca:d- (;’my .to’ arg‘;nHmma malt fles apelogized °© for his preoccupa- “You will dine m() ll.sr::rt:'n::k (;:uz ;\e)\irhoh%fi 1 forget the private F to 3 c brisk, fresh-c , es 1 - T 4 n the .south of of. one of the Popes in ey tion, called for'an A. B. C. timetable, room,” sad Raffles; *it 5 istening lute-logking man, with a very con-' tion, I am not sure.that you are the Engiand, though - nobi ¢ d. m B 3 y e ou e v Sl < gt By g, » 2R TR Boutie alr Bold DI S00s ity ot Banlthr Tb-rmch b Belcte: tha?n ol ’“d‘e;s N“ur::‘v_ m% :’_u::; told. me at the National Galler_ly_;.:;h::; and announced his intention of catch- foom. You must keep him ssit as long my host with ome ear and for, Raffles him— they had its hisfory by heart. there that_the picture is practically price- less.. And youug-Deberham has sold it as possible, Bunny, and talking all the time!' - with the otheér! Once I hea though the rooms were not divi by the old-fashioned folding doors, ang the door that did divide them was not ounly shut but richly curtained, I could kave sworn I heard him onee. I spilt my vine and laughed at she top of my ing_the 3:02 to Esher. Aerer S*You must excuse me, Mr.-Addén- brooke."dsn’ld h&. ut I"have my own In a flash I saw his plan.* idea, and for the moment I should ou're golng for The deiiée he has,” sdid Raffles. ° much prefer to Keep it to e i A T pictiT Butle T inquired who had bought it. “. ..may-end. in.a fizzle,.s0. L would R e . A 1e; r by the hame not speak about it to eitirer of you jmst to-good olubs! I'rather intended to-ap- peal to the—er~adventurois classes,” “We"are adyventurers,” sald - Raffiles furniture are his hobby, and he is un- , doubtedly very eccentric.* Nor can one deny that thers has been considerable eceentricity fn his treatment of his son. * For years Sir.Bernard-paid his.debts, and the othér day, without the slightest at opened wide at the sight of Raf- n “Mr.—Glasspod]?” exclaimed the law- gravely. Sl 5 “But. you respect thie law?”, said Raffles, with dry ef- - The black: eyes gleamad shrewd! vy name,” I he hears you! © : Lord's, mowever,” said the “We are .pot .proféssional .rogues, .if warning.' nat onl: ¥ Lo Lort . v _ proféssi it w 3 y refused to 4o so any: ~the. Hon; .Johh Montagu. yet. But speak to Sir Bernard I must, “He shan't.’” 4 veige My dear sir, I havp. seen thai's what You' mean,” .sald Raffles, morg but absolutely. Stopped the lad's Craggs, E.FL. C., to give lgd his full. so will yéu‘ write me one line to him on sl.n'lt he does!” 3 (Contint on Page L.p . . = . ' 52 e | > SEA S T o ¢ g B