I34
THE BLACK MASK.
VII.
TO CATCHA THIEF.
SOCIETY persons are not likely to have forgotten
theseries of audacious robberies by which so many
of themselves suffered in turn during the brief course
of a recent season. Raid alter taid was made upon
the smartest houses in town, and within a few weeks
more thanhe exalted head Lad been shorn of its
priceless tiara. The Duke and Duchess of Dorchester
16st half the portable pieces of their historic plate on
The very night of their Graces' almost equally historic
he worthy diamonds were taken
in broad daydiahte during tlhe excitement of a chari-
table meetifg on the ground - floor, and the gifts of
her belted b.ideioom to 1ady Máy Paulton while
the outer ainewas thick with psmatic shower of
It was obvious that al this was the work
costume ball
mfetti.
of no ordinary thief,uandperhaps inevitable that the
name of Raffles should have been dragged from
oblivion by callous disrespecters of the departed and
