The Intrusion of Jimmy

acking of the spacious days of the Regency. Nowadays, the spirit seems to have deserted England. When Mr. Asquith became Premier of Great Britain, no earnest forms were to be observed rollin

to dash into a wager with the fearlessness of a soldier in a forlorn hope, and, once in, to reg

e wouldn't. There had never been a time when a challenge, a "dare," had not acted as a spur to him. In his newspaper days, life had been one

h, and it seemed to lead nowhere! This task of burgling a house was like an unexpected treat to a child. With an intensity of purpose that should have touched his sense of humor, but, as a matter of fact, did not appeal to him as ludicrous in any way, he a

ing from the unhoped-for praise. Jimmy looked at his watch. It was nearly three

pi

uh

come and crack a

written on the red

, bo

ld y

ing you kn

see you wasting your time on coarse work. You have the root of the matter in you, and with a little coaching I could put a polish on you. I wouldn't do this for everyone, but I hate to see a man bungling who might do better! I want to see you at work. Come righ

I know where dere's a

ition. A friend of

then. One mo

n had been living at a hotel near Washington Square. It was probable that he was st

very pleasant. Has Mr. Mifflin come in yet? Gone to bed? Never mind, call him up, will you? Go

g? Who the d

pick up such expressions

Jimmy? What in

g with me? I don't want to do anything contrary to our agreement, but there's a young fellow here who's anxious that I should let him come along and pick up a few hints. He's a professional all right. Not in our

receiver, and t

ea

' to put on your

what this novice suggested. He went into the bedroom, a

ughed te

gun?" he hazarded. Ji

, not guns," he sai

about Seventy-Second Street. Anything beyond that was getting on for the Middle West, and seemed admirably suited as a field for the cracksm

y aloof air which characterizes the taxi-chauffeur. A lesser man might have displayed some curiosity about the ill-matched pair. The chauffeur, having lighted a cigarette, drove off without any display o

s up to you, Spike. Didn't you say something about knowi

at the number

ss," he said. "I wisht you

o drive up to the door? Pull y

find that the much-enduring thoroughfare extended as far as this. It had never occ

too light for Jimmy's tastes. He was content, however, to leave matters entirely to

ck he passed, until finally the h

before a fair-siz

puts me wise about dis joint. I t'ought he'd got it in fer me 'cos of last week when I scrapped wit' him about

sposition." A single rain-drop descended on the nape o

ds," said Jimmy. "We must break in, if

w feet from the ground. Spike pull

at?" inqui

s," said Spike

rawing out a short steel instrument, he gave the paper a sharp tap. The glass broke almost inaudibly. The paper ca

Jimmy; "elementar

ted. This took longer, but in the end

ame quite

The advice I give to every novice is, 'Learn to walk before you try to run.' Master the a

ight switch. They were in a parlor, furnished and decorated with surprising taste. Jimmy had expected the usua

tistic effects in room-furnishing. There was that big J to be carved o

of the house came the bark of a dog. Another joined in. Th

cried

more or less to su

was covered not with a carpet but with tastefully scattered rugs, and underneath these rugs it was very highly polished. Spike, treading on one of these islands, was instantly undone. No power of will or muscle can save a man in such a case. Spike skidded. His fe

resemble the "A che la morte" duet in "Il Trovatore." P

the fall had disconcerted him. His eyes, like those of Shakespeare's poet, rolling in a fine frenzy, did g

the soprano dog had reached A in alt., and was holding it,

here's somebody coming! Ge

e fallen one, and depart alone. Spike was his brother-in-arms. He would as soo

or, rubbing his head and uttering "Gee!" at intervals in a melancholy voice, Jim

oment as if a cyclon