AN ARTIST-IN CRIME.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14658, 27 January 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN ARTIST-IN CRIME.

(By H. G. WelTs),

It is a moot point whether burglary is to be considered as a sport, n. trade, or an art. i'or a trade, the technic is* scarcely rigid enough, and its claims to be considered an art aro vitiated by the mercenary elemont that qualities' its triumphs. On tho ivholo, it seems to be most justly ranked as a sport—a sport for Which no rules are at present formulated, and of wRh tho prizes are distributed in .m extremely informal manner. it was this informality of burglary that ltd to the regrottablo extinction of t*vo promising beginners at Humuwrpond Park. The stakes offered in this. tifuir consisted chiefly of diamonds and other personal bric-a-brac belonging to the newly married Lady Aveling. Her marriage to Lord Aveling was extensively advertised in the papers, the quantity and quality of her wedding presents, and tho fact that the honf.vmoon was to bs spent at Haniuiorpoid. The announcement of these valuaMa prizes created a considerab'e s»n.sat : «u in the small circle in which Mr Tedoy \\ atiins was tho undisputed -eider, and it wa.i derided that, ac-;o<mpa-iied by a duly qualifled assistant, he should visit tho viilago of Hnmir.erpond in his professional capacity. Being a man of tuturallv retiring and modest disposition, Mr Watkins determined to make his visit incog , and after due consideration, he ?o-lec-ted the role of a landscape artist and the unassuming name o'f Smith. Ho orecedud his assistant, who it was decided, should join hina on the Ust afternoon of his stay at Hammorpond. Now, the viilago of Hammenvwd is parhaps one <:i' tho prettiest I-'tMa corners jn Sussex: many +ha uen-d houses still survive, the llint-b-jiic church with its tall spire ntvding under the down is one of the f.nc-st and oast restored in the cc-untv, and the beech-woods and bracken fun d-s through which the road runs to the groat house are sinp,ulariy rich in wliot the vulgar artist and photograpner call "hits-" So that Mr Watkins, on lis arrival -with two virgin canv-is-js a brand-new easol, a paint-box, portmanteau, au ingenious little ladder made in soctions, crowbar, and wro coils, found himself welcomed with ettusion and some curiositv l>v half a dozen other brethren of tho brum It rendered the disguise he had eji-.s-m imcxpo?tod;y plausible, but it mnirt-d upon him a considerable amount of aesthetic conversation for «-hich he was very imperfectly prepared. "Have you exhibited much?" said loung Porson, in the bar-parlour of the "Coach and Horses." where Mr Vatkns was skilfullv accumulating ■ oal imormation on the night of hi~l arrival. ■•Very little," said Mr Watkins: "nut a snack here and there/' "Academy?'' "lii course. And at tie Crystal Palace." "Did they hang von well?" said Porson. "Don't rot," said Watkins; "I do not like it." "I mean did thev put vou in a pood place?" "Whatdyer mean?" said Mr Watkins, suspiciously. "One would tciiik you were trying to make out that I'd been put away." Porson had been brought up by aunts, and was a gentlemanly noting mon, even for an artist: ho "did not know what being "put away" Mc.iiit, but ho thought it best to explain that he intended nothing of the sort. As the question of lianging seemed a sere point with Mr Watkins, he tii'-d to divert the conversation a little. "l)n you do figure-work at al - .?" "Xo. never had a head for fo:uivs." s.iid Mr Watkins: "my miss— Mrs Smith, 1 mean, does ail that." ".She paints, too!" said Porson. "That's rather joliv." "Very," said Mr Watkins, thongh ho really did not think so. and. titling the conversation was drifting beyond his grasp, added: "I came tii.wn here to paint Hammerpond House by moonlight." "Uceliy!" said I'or.ym. "That's a rathei- novel idea." "Yes.* - said Mr Watkins. T thou-ilit it rather a good notion when it occurred to me. I expect to :i>->gm tomorrow night." "T do, though." "Wli.it! You don't mean to niint it in the open, by right?" "Rut how will you see vonr -can-

'•Have a bloomin' cop-"s *' btg;"tn Mr Watkins, rising too quickly to the question, and then reaiis.ng this, lie bawled to Miss Duigan for another gin.S3 of beer. "I'm going to Have a th ng called a dark lantern," he si.'d to Purscn. "But it's about new moon new," ol'je. tcci Poison. "There won't ''C any moo;:.'' "There'll be the house," said W;itkins, "at any rate. I'm going'. >ou see. to paint" the house first and iho moan afterward.?.'' ''Oh!" raid Person, too sMgjprad to :-f:tititm-3 the corvorsit'on. "They doo say." s.:id old Diirjsi-J, th-* landlord, who had maintained- a rosp.'-cthil silence during the teenn <\>.l eo;ivor.:aticn, "as; there's no 1-ss than three p'licemen from 'Azelw-Mth on dewty every night in the' house 'count of this Lady Aveling 'a b'r jewellery. One'm won fower and six last night, off second iooiuvun tossin'."' 1 Toward sunset rest day Mr Watkins, virgin canvas, easel, and a very considerable case of other appliances in hand, strolled up the pleasant y-aih-way through the , beech-woods to Hammerpond Park, and pitched his apparatus in n strategic position commanding the house. Here lie wac observed, by Mr Raphael Sant, who was returning across the park f'oiu a study -of the chaik-pits. His curi'i*.i.; f having been fired by Porson's account of the new arrival, he turned is ; do with the idea of discussing nocturnal art. Mr Watkins was apparently unaware of his approach. A frien ily conversation with Lady Hammerpond's butler had just tei urinated, .ind that individual, surrounded by three pet dogs which it was his duty to t;.ke for an airing after dinner had iicen served, was receding in the di:.t:>nCv. Mr Watkins was mixing colour with an air of great irdustry. Bant, approaching more nearly, was surprised to see the. colour in question was ns harsh and 'as brilliant an emerald green as it is possible to imagine. Having cultivated an extreme ti nsibility to colour from his earliest cays, he drew the air in sharply between his teeth at the very first glimpse of this brew. Mr Watkins turned round. He looked annoyed. "What on earth are you doing with that beastly green?" said Sartt. Mr Watkins realised that his l to appear busy in the eyes cf the butler had evidently betrayed him into some technical error. Ho locked at Sant and hesitated. "Pardon my rudeness," said Sant; "but, really, that green is too an ezing. It came as a shock. What da yotl mean to do with it?" Mr W'atk'ns was collecting his resources. Nothing could ' Die situation but decision. "If vmi c»me here interrupting my work, 1 ' ho said, "I'm csoin' to paint your face with it" Sunt retired, for he was a humorist and a peaceful man. Goinc down ihe hill be met Person and Wninwr'ch*.. "SitUcr that jiuin is a. aenius. or. ho is a dangerous lunatic," said he. "Just

go up and look .it his green." ho continued h:s way, uis countenance brighrsned by a p.c-aeant. anticipation of a cheerful aiiray round an cisel in the gloaming, .ana the shedding or much green paint. But to Person and Wainwright Mr Watkins was less aggressive, and explained that the green was. intended to be the first ooaoing of his picture. It was. he admitted, in response to a. remark, an absolutely new method, invented by himself. But subsa-iujutly he became more ret ; oent; he cxpci'iio.d that ho was not going to toll tfvciy passer-by the secret of bis o.vn r articular style, and added some scath ng remarks upon the meanncS3 of people •'hanging about" tc pick up auih tricks of the masters as they could, which immediately relieved him of their company. Twilight deepened, first one, then another star (appeared. The rooks among the tall trees to the loft of the house had long since lapsed into slumbrous silence, the house itseif lest all the details of its architecture j-»d became a dark-grey outline, and ihon the windows of the saloon shone out brilliantly, the conservatory -vas Ii?.!i(ed up, and here ana there a bjdrxnn window burnt yellow. Had any on* approached the easel in the park, it would have been found deserted. One brief, uncivil word in brilliant green .sullied the purity of its canvas. Mr Watkins was busy in the ;hrul>b;ry with his assistant, -who had disireed'v joined him from the carriage drive Mr Wntkins was inclined to be selfcongratulatory upon the ingenious t'evice by which he had carried all his apparatus boldly, and in the sifhb of all mon, right up to the scene of operations. "That's the dressingroom," he said to his assistant, -and a.j-soon as he maid takes the '••audio away and goes down to sirppar, we'll call in. My I how nice the house do look, to bo sure, against the starlight! fcuvopme, Jim, I almost wish 1 11m n painter chap. Have you fixed that there wire across the path from -he laundrv?"

He cautiously approached the house until he stood below the d-essing-romn window, and to nut together his folding ladder. Ko was much too experienced a. practitioner to foe! any unusual excitement. Jim was reronnoitering the smoking-room. Suddenly, close beside Mr Wit.tins, in the bushes. there was a violent crash and a stifled curse. Some one had tumbled over the wire which h e assistant had just arranged. Mr Watkius, like all tiue artists, vas a singularly shy man. and he incontinently dropped his folding ladder and began running circumspectly through the shrubbery- He was ind'stincitiy aware of two people hot upon his heels and he fancied that he distinguished the outline of his assistant in front of him. In anotiier moment ho had vaulted the low stone wall bounding the shrubbery, and was in rho open park. Two thuds upon the turf followed his own leap. It was a close ch:.se in the darkness through the trees. Mr Watkins was a loosely built man and in goixl tram ng and he gained huiid-ovcr-liaud npon the hoarsely panting figure \'i <iont. Neither spoke, hut, as Mr Warkms pulled up alongside, a qualm of ;iwfnl doubt came over him. The qther n.sn turned his head at the same nairmnt. and gave an exclamation of surprise. "It's not .Tim," thought Mr Wat-kins, and simultaneously the stranger filing lumself as it were, at Watkius's. and they were forthwith grappling on the ground together. "lend a hand. TJtli''" cried the stranger, as the third rami came up. And Bill did—two hands, in fact, and some accentuated feet. The fourth man, presumably Jim. L.d apparently turned aside and made off in a different direction. At any rate, he did not join the trio. Mr Watkins's n.emory of the incidents of the next two min'.'tes ia extremely vague. He has a dim •collection of having his thumb in the corner of tare mouth of the first n ;.n, and feeling anxious about its salt-iv, and for some seconds at least he- held the head of the g< ntleman iinswe-u:: to the name of Kill to the "•oui'J. by the hair. He was also hi. k->d ;,: a great- numb:-;- nf places, -ppar -:n'y by a vast multitude of people. Then the gentleman who was not I'iii tri> d to get- his knee below Mr Watkim's di.tphrngm and tried to curl him up upon it. When jVs sensations bec-vmo i> ss entangled, ho was sitting unon the turf and eight v.r ton men—the n ; {:ht was dark and he was too eon'uvrl 10 count—standing round lvm, nupiren;-' ly waiting for iiim to recover. He mournfully assumed that lie .v.'cs captured, and would probably .iave Tads some philosophical* reflections on the fickleness of fortune, had not his internal sensations disinclined Inn fur speech.

He noticed very quickly that his wr:sts were not handcuffed' and ihen a flask cf braudv was put into his hands. This touched him a Httic —:t was such unexpected kindness. "He's a comin' nund," said a voce, which he fancied he recognised a.- belonging to the Hammerpond re-ond footman. "We've got 'em, sir, both of "cm." said the Hammerpcnd butier, the man who handed him the flask. "Th-aniis to you." No one answered this remark. Yet he failed to see how it appiiad to him. "He's fair dazed," said a si range voice; "the villains half murlerci him." Mr Teddy Watkins decided to remain fair dazed until he had a Ir.'tter grasp of the Situation. Ho perceived that two of the black figures round h.m stood side by side with a deleted air, and there was something in the carriage of their shoulders that suggested to his experienced eye, hanos that were bound together. "Two! In a flash he rose to his cushion. He emptied the little flask "and stazgercd obsequious hands assisting lii.ii to his feet. There was a sympathetic murmur. "Shake hands sir, shake hands," said one of the- figures near dim. "Permit me to introduce myself I am very greatly indebted to you. tt was the jewels of my wife. Aveling, which attracted these scoundrels to the house." "Very glad to make your lor.kl.ip's acquaintance," said Teddy Watk : ns. "I presume you saw the rascals making for the shrubbery, and downed them?" "That's exactly how it happened," said _Mr "Watkins. "You should have waited till they pot in at the w)i>d-nv," said Lrrii Aveling; "they would get it hotter i; they had actually committed the burglary. And it was lucky for y.iu ivo of the polkfemen were out by tho gates, and followed up the three of you. I doubt if you could have secured the two of them —though it was confoundedly plttcky of you, a'l the same." "Yes, I ought to have thought of that," said Mr Watkins; "but one can't think of tverything." "Certainly not," said Lord Aveling. "I am afraid they have mauled yen a little," ho added. Tho party was now moving toward the house. "You walk rather lame. May I offer you my arm?" And instead of entering Harare rpond House by the dressing-room window, Mr Watkins entered it slightly intoxicated and ineluvxl now to cheerfulness r.gain—on tho aim <r a real l : vo peer, and bv the Hont door "This,"' thought Mr Wfl •'.'■<:!■;. "i". hiiral-'no: in style!" Tho "soundrels," seen by the gaslight, proved ■ be mere local amateurs unknown to Mr Watkins, and they were taken down into the pantry and thcie watched over by three policemen, -iwo »ith loaded guns, the

butler, end an hostler, until tlio dawn allowed of their removal to Hazoihorst police station. Air "VYatkins was nude much or in tho drawing rccm. They devoted a sofa to him, .md would not hear of a return to tho that night. Lady AvViing was Euro thai ie was brilliantly origin-d, snd said her idea of Turner was just ivi another rough, halr-'.nebrhvted, df-fp-eyed, brave, and clever man. J-t mo ono brought up r, remarkable little folding ladder that had basn pick=.l up in tho shrubbery, and Ehow'id him how it was put together. 'Chey a'.fu described how wires had been found in the shrubbery, evidently placed there to trip up unwary pursuers. It, was lucky he had escaped these snatcs. And thc-y showed him the jewels. Mr Wntkins had tho sense not to talk too much, and in any coaveiyational difficulty fell ba"k "on i-'s internal pains. At last he was f.-ir.td with stiffness in tiro back and yawning. Every one suddenly -woke to the fact that it was a shame to leep him talking after his affray to be retired early to hir. room —the l>lilo red room "next to Lord vvating's suite.

The dawn found a deserted enrol, bearing a canvas with a frre»n inscription, in the Hammernotid Park, and it found T-Limmerpond Park ii crnimntion. But if tin dawn found Mr Teddv TTatkins and the. AVelintj diamonds, it did not communicate ihe information to tlo police. -- "The Stolen Bacillus."

A resident of Timaru who has just returned from a , tour of tho Xorth Irland, says that the feeling up there against Sir Joseph Ward as Prime Sunister is much stronger than in the South Island. He gathered on hi travels that what the pson'.e most strongly resented was the failure of the Government to open up thousands upon thousands of " acres of Native lands which are lying absolutely idle while thousands of peoole are anxious to take the::; up. They .".!.--.> obic-oted to the enoourujcimonc gvc:! "for a Maori aristocracy in Tie Xorth Island.

CAN 1 INVENT? Yes! Edison says so, arid h e ought to know. He says that aavcno.cm bjcomo an inventor if hu applies to it. Somo v.iU got t);:ougIi iju:ckcr than others; but ail can arrive at tiio goal of their ambition by constantly brooding over the tiling " sought lor. Jidjson advises ;iu independent plan of action, without refc-reneo to wbai others havo dace, as by so doim- vou falls. ° Tiiis is good advice, ar.d if those with a mechanical turn will watch theso columns, or call upon Henry Hughes, Ltd., patent agents, lb3 Hereford street, Christihureh, thev will find many suggestions that will so"; them thinking, fu coiup.Ung the pamphlet, "Advice to Inventors,'' Henrv Hughes, Ltd., included a list of some inventions needed at the present time and any further information with reference to same may be had from the above address, where also copies of the pamphlet are obtainable. The firm of Henry Hughes, Ltd.. Mr A. I?. Hoiship, manager, Christchurcb, has been established over a q;;auer of a century, and intending" patentees cannot do better than consult them before ai> plying for their patents. Timaru agent, 31r J. E. S. Jackson. Stafford street....