The Burglar of the Zodiac

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ...Immediate each scarlet shutter claps Widely open. In striped night-cap and a wildly whiskered face The Proprietor appears, furious crimson to the ears, --And he holds the Blackamoor by a clutch both fierce and sure In disgrace! Oh their gestures and grimaces, oh the faces that they make! If they only were to talk it, every soul would start awake In that strange and eerie country. Ah, but see! While still they wrangle, Bicker and objurgate and jangle, Quite revived, our lovely Lady suddenly lifts her golden head In the garden. Next--she's sped Through the gates... Each garden-bed--Circles, oblongs, squares or crescents--Weirdly writhes with phosphorescence; And she just has time to start Against one wall, with arms outspread, When--the Villain comes prancing out With green baleful looks that dart. And behold! beneath his cloak Close he hugs--the Bags of Gold From the well-stored Card House cellar (Oh it's time that you were told!) But he pales with horrid doubt In a fit that seems to choke, Which is lovely to behold! From the window, mouthing vainly and insanely, fever-shook, See the Blackamoor--pointing, panting. Then at last--at last they look! But the watchman's hardly agile, and a woman's grip is fragile. Our dagger-bearded Villain plunges snarling from the scene. Though he drops a tithe of treasure, what he takes is past all measure. So at least thinks night-capped Father by his show of frantic spleen! The Watchman is nonplussed. He gapes and he feels For all of his packets in all of his pockets. He studies their text, and he studies their seals. He turns to the law on Purloining of Lockets. He turns to the ordinance, penalties stating For Eating and Sleeping by those without rating In one of the Blue Books. He turns to the section Of...