LITERATURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7732, 7 February 1905, Page 4

LITERATURE.

FLAT BURGLARY*, (Continmed.)

'■' By Jove ! We've fairly nailed him this, time ! " said Clincher, as he proceeded to rapidly empty the oth«r pillar, and then to re-ad!just the mirror so as to look as if nothing had been disturbed. All this lime Alington was looklag on in speechless amazement. Tfeure were pearl necklaces and diamond tiaras, and emerald and rub- , ie», the description of which had been in the bands of the police for months. i Suddenly a step was heard outside, and a key was put in the Jock, I They had already turned oft the light iu the sitting-room, and Clincher now put his hand on the switch. , and the bedroom was instantly lounged into darkness. > Joseph Comuermere entered the sit-ting-room, and then come straight through into the bedroom and turned the light on. Clincher bad just had time to empty all tho jewels into his pockethandkerchief, and had crammed them into his pocket. He now confronted Joseph Comuermere without moving a mutcle of his face. '•' What ia the meaning oi" this intrusion? " inquired Coin&ermero, ■ indignantly. i CUncbqr had pulled a revolver from Ms pocket and was handling it with ' elaborate carelessness. I '' It means, Mr Conibenuere, that' Scotland Yard run you down at j Combermere glanced at the mirror. •'" Yes," said Clincher, quiellsy "it's ,ao use bluffing any more, because .we've collared the swag." Combermere bowed to the inevitable with a good grace. "" I must congratulate you upon your ingenuity, gentlemen. I presume you will let nm change out of my dress clothes before asking me to accompany you to the station." " By all means, Mr Combermere " Maid Clincher, politely. •' We will retire into the sitting-room and give you ten minutes in .which to change."When they re-entered the bedroom it was quite empty. > J lL 1 ! ul l 0 1 " Bnid Alington, "the tnro had flown ! " .1? Y *f' said clinchcr . " and a good thing low. It would have been a dickens of a nuisance if we had had to arrest him. Hut thanks to that ladder leading to the roof.. I thought there was very littlo danger of its *«niog to that." So be and Alington waKed quietly out of the flat and went downstairs, where the night porter let them out with a respectful •■ Good-night." «! lucky for that poor devil Uiat we are not of tho genuine article in the burghwy Mne, but only !P""°"f_ imitations," said Clincher • r fancy he would be in *nous danger of losing his billet." ■KM Mat morning the two treasureweteh. went as early as possible to aM there made a ■ta *£%"? ,eh aston ' 9 hed the offici- *"■ "* Matter, however, at once •ce-mßanied them to the flat in Em- £- " B "? *•»•» toe hoiiow pilmJrror tho sudden of Mr Joseph Com . ownere en«rely corroborated their

thot my , word - Mr Clincher, woVk m ron > arka °ly smart piece of s^!2 r HoUmgton. admiringly • wid there will be some handsome rewards to be picked up when it ~i° «t«rti all thL™* M^Z**, 0 ' Which have «"« up •Myopes of recovering them months

thft • ha . stencd to explain l»J? IL'W ° Ver t0 Scotland ■ ' il ' " d *?•* hc for n»th- * !5 the - Credit of nav,n ir spot- »*. nm Mm to earth. * the case struck In- - E%Zj bMa * lm as an extremely t . when be realised that " The Yard " f iw f^' Uo,TCd to have the Iwndliny of the rewards. '' «w"SL_2 O U' oM man '" s 0 " 1 Clin- .. cneh, cheerfully to Alimjton, "it re- : " S'? r yoU *° W a vis " to the *erriota family, and convince all : ' - l**™* that, as one suitor for the hand of the fair Miss -'.' C Udy c 'rcumstances. it will «*T**r for all concerned to smile »weeUy upoß the blameless aspirant wno at HI remains." Alington lost no time in carryhur " advi «- «"* ™ ' : dc ' n <>»>strative affec■s ™J? y „ ine bB »»'«'ul Miss Zena. -*■ fall. ' \ BriB "'" sh" said, checr- *." UpnKht aml "™thv Mr . has absconded, 'after t" !?"*,. *««W» to b. the author of v, ail Uiese jewel robberies that evervj,,- one nan been talking: about " : Apparently, however, she had not $' I£™| e V , . at Brian haA h *»seM as- &; l2£L% ? C S> maski "K of the vilf. £!?""? ?!f whlch na turally aroused *■•' **?' . curh>s Jty, and she in- - mated on hearing all about it. •' J?"£!£ rCla^ 1 the whole story to " !!f.IJ! u ut see '" K your father, and getting him to consent to our enr!S^ Wh ? etWs about ! - Combprmer* i, still to his ;

J - ***** tnat tn « idea *»* an exceHeut one, as her father v 2£ #V s VCTy much u P« l *t the "lea of having believed so Ihorough- ,, ly m Combenucre ; and she waited m some trepidation while Brian : ' ZtJ*, to ™ ter view Mr Ferriot in his study.

'* twt. 1 !f ttt . .«•«■• t~k the line 1 -Si wa ?. Bot '** to condemn Jo- ' S? had rolatlcd tne *t°rv of t, «* fr .»t'«ck on the flat in Empire >' »»nfflons, he was obliged to admit -'• re *° S not rouch ™om for < 22w "V° ifm su PPo«d millioni 1 aires guilt. rf 'ZVS. ""V' Mia & on -" <*e said , .« length, I suppose that if you ' . J^° n !" y dau ßhtcr- 9 consent*, it would be churlish of me to withhold mine. And so, not long afterwards, a marriage was solemnised at St £?"3£ 9 ' ?f/ lovcr Sl » uare - at which "***»» AHngton became the husband of Miss Zcna Ferriot, while Mr . Harold Clincher officiated as best man. •JV? 10, ? Br .* hB werfdin 8' presents was a particularly beautiful pearl dog col- - far, which delighted the bride more than anything else. This had been presented by the grateful owner of some of the restored jewWlcrv to Mr Clincher m gratitude for his unmaskJf^M-. ' lase f* i Comj*rmero. and u- °™_ CJlnk » " "as passed it on to his friend s bride as a suitable wedding present. The evening papers that day not only contained n description of the wedding, but also nn account of the somewhat scnsnlionajjirreat of Joseph Combermerc in as a result of which he is now doing's -ten years' penal servitude. Mr Harold Clincher's fame has spread far and wide, since that time I but- both he and his friend Alingfr ton have agreed that their raid on Mr Joseph Combermerc's rooms at Empire Mansions will constitute their first and last experiment in what Dogberry described as " fiat burglary as ever was committed."