The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles

ster, and an appropriate grant of land in Yorkshire, at a yearly rental of a peppercorn and a golden horseshoe. That rent is still paid by the Barons-now Earls-of Tadcaster. His lat

e, "we see indicated the quest of our distinguished fellow mem

?" inquired Cunningham. "Am I to

tended for the King on the 29th. Our meeting is arranged for the 28th, so that we may return the trophies in

Tadcaster, lived chiefly at his Westmorland seat, Kirkdale Castle, which an ancestress in the t

h with the landlord and frequenters of the inn, and taking walks in the neighbourhood of the Castle. On the latter occasio

h him a handsome dark-eyed girl. He learnt that this was the Earl himself, a scientif

ask of finding them there was too big. He had learnt that on these annual occasions Lord Tadcaster, accompanied by his chauffeur, left the castle in his motor-car four days before the King received him. H

n to Bolton Abbey, through which village he knew that his lordship would

onshire Arms at Bolton Abbey, and Cunningham saw to his amazement that, instead

le two men single-handed might be cou

to the door to a

hip lost Mr. Ac

a backfire this morning, and I sent him on by train to Harro

minute,

rl in confidential communion with his motor, thr

n his bad luck, another car drove up, and two loudly-dressed men emerged from th

eauty, one of the motorists, with the comradeship of one sportsman to anothe

of surprise, stared icil

f shame. "But I'd like to have the breaking-in of you

e a four-year-old, like I bought to-

retorted the other-"a bloomin' materialist." He lingered lo

he sound of a gramopho

aster was

When at home his private band officiated; when he was on his tr

a particular food than another. Therefore he swallowed his soup to a dreamy prelude, his fish to a fugue. The entrée was expedited by Beethoven, the joint disappeared

f Achille, the music occasionally gave out, but by the intermittent tunes Cunningham was still able to gauge the progress of the meal. The omission of a sonata denoted limi

nfines of Haverah Park, almost within sight of Harrogate

that met the eye. All was cold and stern. Cold and stern was his business that night; and there, close to the wo

factory thing about it was that he had time to note the small amount of

, a red star, the apex of a triangle of which three stars formed the base. The name had struck him as re

randed. Possibly he had returned to Bolton Abbey, or taken train forward, or, since he was short-handed, he might have alter

the Tadcaster toot-a base twentieth century substitute for the cry that on the

y mounted the rise in front. The Panhard dashed up the hil

nd. He slowly opened his throttle valve. Now he was making pace. He was gaining on them yard by yard, hand over

second shot. It split with a rousing bang. The car listed and dragged. It swerved across the road in violent cur

NNINGHAM; 'I AM COVERING YO

outrage, you scoundrel?" c

n his feet, and advancing with revolver i

ed the peer. "And Edward VII. on t

he situation," said Cunningham. "This

g without my chauffeur," he added plaintively. "By George, if Achille wer

d," said Cunningham, "but a

him yours as well. Shockin' luck for this to happen the first

" she continued contemptuously, throwing back her thick veil to see what manner of man t

ty as the occasion would permit. "I do not ask for money. I simply

curio-collector gone mad," said his lordship. "D'ye

your hands, on the proper day. I simp

e hoop of one of the heavy acetylene lamps, and pulled it from its socket. "Take

le, which crashed to the gr

ord," he shoute

fited peer

shoe at once, if you please, or I shall have to use force. I trust you will avo

drew out the precious packet

wise. I promise you they shall be returned

n to the Queen Hotel at Harrogate and tell my chauffeur, Achille Petibon, to come with a repairer at once. We can't spend the nigh

my lord," replied Cunningham. "I sincerely regret the in

use, and Cunningham could h

d by the trees. The excitement of the adventure, the flush of victory, a pair

avour, my lo

George, if I were

a gramophon

it's too bulky for you to carry away. They're cheap enough. A man

lord. I simply want the favour o

is lordship stopped suddenly. He was keen of hearing, and as he spoke he had heard, or thought he heard, a distant car. Even

leman, Eva." As he spoke he pressed the girl's hand so that she might know that something lay behind his words. "Where's the gramophon

ng. Distract his attention." In his anxiety his lordship even hummed as he hur

, and a baritone vo

opatra! I ain'

is is

oin' to

ou don't wa

ntary pause the instrument struck up "The Darkie Cake Walk," as played

" asked Cunningham, hat

man was certainly polite. He led her as though she w

d the green sward in front, and on it a highwayman and a lady motorist stepped to a catching dance tune, emanating from a gramophone on a Panhard

dancers. Thrice had they paced the length of the floor. Now they turned again, hand in hand, with heads thrown back, and uplifted

KABLE SOUND OF AN APPR

onged howl, signifying unimaginable trouble. This, and the unusual scene at the si

Help!" cri

the dancers reached the verge of the road in the full flare of the light, they were

one of the newcomers. "If i

p me to secure this highwayman," he said,

down, but his companion remained on t

to his recruit. "I think w

orist. "You collar the highwayma

with proffered arm, smirked, "M

ill nearer. Instinctively she touch

k, sir!" h

you're a highwayman, but you seem to think you're a bloomin' bob

nearer I'll thrash y

even dared to touch the lady's arm. A seco

from his seat wit

l alone," he said, rol

hwayman," he continued vindictively. "You've had your score, now I'll have mine. Either t

wh

, and give the police info

ar," said Cunni

e police," said the Earl ruefully, yet anxious

ht, so I'd rather do it in proper legal style. I'll bring a solicitor if I can find one. Now, young feller," he continued, "you'd better consider well. It'll be a twelve months' touc

you dare to speak another word to the lady you

had your choice. It's plank and skilly for you now. Get up, Sammy." He bundled hi

sorry," sa

. "The whole thing is the result of my own folly.

ape now?" she asked, only rem

ied. "It's probably all a ruse on his part to get

va was

What the deuce do you want with that peppercorn and sh

out fail. Perhaps you'll believe me now." Then, after a pause, he added: "I'll make a dash for it if they aren

. Cunningham looked alternately from her to Betelgeu

y wait for assistance? I think I can put on a new tyre, if you wil

with alacrity, and the two men

s, and assist her into them. She sat down on a tree stump, h

was thinking gravely. Suddenly a smile pass

und of the returning car. Sammy's friend was better th

for robbery!" shouted the motorist, as he brought h

sir?" said the police

is uncertain, for before he cou

mean?" she cried, standing up, and

me off my beat to arrest a

breakdown. Surely that is the person who promised to send ass

r!" cried the motoris

sir?" inquire

replied the Earl, astonished b

words came forth. He was absolutel

id his friend hopefully. "'E knocked 'im dow

lady, I think,"

speech. "Sold again, Sammy!" And with a

policeman, with intense disgust. "

doubt give you a lift to Harrogate. In the meantime you might relieve the lady of the trouble of directing

Eva, and the policeman got on board and sped awa

n resumed his interrupted beat, the richer

elf Cunningham

e added. "You will not find it misplaced," and with

he had the horseshoe and peppercorn. What Lady Eva'

time to stop a relief expedition, organised by the anxious Achi

a.m. on the 29th there was delivered at Claridge's Hotel a registered packet containing a peppercorn and a gold

yres, "With Mr. Duval's compliments a

dance, dinner, and reception, hoping that some day Lady Eva and he may meet again; and as for Lady Ev