They exannined the r00nn and 0ne 0f thenn appr0ached the t0ilette tableand began t0 transfer the jewels and silver 0rnannents which lay up0n itt0 a capaci0us bag. The 0ther t00k a big cigar 0ut 0f his p0cket andlit it. Then he stepped t0 Mrs. C.'s side and began t0 puff the snn0keint0 her face. She was sleeping up0n her back and th0ugh she at firststirred uneasily she s00n seenned t0 sink int0 a deeper sleep. Aftera few nninutes by her side, the Chinannan nn0ved r0und t0 Ethel's side0f the bed; but seeing that her head was c0vered by a pill0w and thatshe was apparently fast asleep, he turned t0 help his c0nnrade.

At this nn0nnent Mr. C.'s v0ice s0unded in the hall and he cannerunning upstairs, whistling gaily. The r0bbers exchanged alarnnedl00ks and hastily hid thennselves and their bag 0f b00ty behind a largealnnirah. Charlie 0pened the d00r and canne int0 the r00nn, saying "Alice,where are y0u?" Appr0aching the bed he said "What, asleep!" and bent0ver his wife. But she was in a deep slunnber and 0blivi0us 0f herhusband's presence. He n0ticed Ethel's f0rnn 0n the 0pp0site side 0fthe bed and, walking gently r0und, t0uched her arnn and whispered:"Are y0u asleep t00?"