New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-19
MY WIFE'S MAID.

uC bCIlcc VI WAipb oossA oAON VI
public in the autumn and early winter
the year 1856 was Of a description to alarr
any household. The general features G
each robbery were the same. In every cas-
q gang of from seven to eleven masked me-
had broken into an isolated dwelling COZ
tanning an unusual amount of silver o
Jewels; had iDtimidated the inmates b.
threatening them with firearms; mastere,
them, secured them, gagged them, thel
quietly proceeded methOdically to strip tn
house Of ell the valuables it contained
Their intelligence Of the premises was neve
faulty. Secret drawers and sliding panels
supposed to be known only to the family
were sought and opened al once, and safes
whether built into the walls or exposed il
closets, we're equally at their mercy, ant
easily forced by means of drills and gun
powder.
The police seemed indefatigable in inves
tigation and pursuit, yet five of these auda
ciOus and astounding rObberies had sue
ceeded each other without single ares,
taking place. Plenty of rumOrs were
abroad that the gang were in the hands OF
the authorities, but such statements con.
tanned not q grain of truth, for the detec.
tives were absolutely in the dark.
Ny own position filed me with anxiety.
MY house is six miles from town, set in the
centre of wild grounds, remote from any
habitation but the gardeners cottage at the
gate. Both my wife and myself had To-
herited large amount of bulky family
plate, and besides this useless metal, which
never came out of the safe, had several
costly services presented on the occasion Of
our marriage, three large salvers, etc., ties.
timOnials from societies Of which l had
been an active member, to say nothing of a
complete and varied assortment Of small
articles in silver and gold.
Then my wife's possessions were those
of q princess, for she had been the daugh-
ter Of a millionaire, and all her life q
spoiled child of fortune. Besides plate
and Jewels, her house contained valuable
collection of statuary, paintings and
bronzes, and / was only too conscious of
having expended fortune upon the sur
roundings Of our daily life, and was in
spired with grave doubts as to its safety.
BrOoding over snch thoughts, and reading
the newspapers, filed with speculatiOns
concerning these mysterious burglaries, /
soon became the victim of an exaggera ted
disquietude. Had my own wishes been car
ried out, every ounce of silver and every
level we owned would have been sent into
town to my bankers; but my wife OBJ
iected, laughed at my apprehensions, and
begged me not to worry.
But / continued to worry, and perplexed
myself with conflicting plans for safety,
and one day while in town l went to the
headquarters of the police, and inquired
for Belts, the detective engaged on this
case. .
he admitted me into his private room.
asked him for the latest news. Had any,
body been arrested ! No. Was anybody
to be arrested He shrugged his shoulders.
Was anybody suspected
He chuckled softly to himself
my dear SIR said he, I'VE suspect
everybody"
Then cried !, "arrest everybody on
suspicion ! Good God l can not sleep in |
my bed, for something assures me my turn |
will come next ] can't decide what to do,
Belts. My wife won't let the silver and |
the diamonds 60 out Of the house, and this |
very night l may be awakened to find |
masked men standing over me with loaded |
pistols, who will rob my house under my
very eyes~
Belts shook his head, unused little with
his legs crossed and his left forefnger
pressed into his cheek. "By.the-by," said
he presently, chow many servants have
you, Mr.. Powersl Please tell me about
them individually"
went over their Names and the Getec. |
tive checked them off in his memorandum
book as ! gave the facts connected with
them. Saunders, the butler, had been with
us seventeen years, the cook five years,
coachman and groom seven and the cham
bermaid three-all fixtures in the house
hold but Marie, my wife's maid, who had
come within the last four weeks.
"Ah" exclaimed Belts, where did you
get Marie' Was she well recommended 2"
"Oh, yes; she is French, and has lust |
come to this country with family by the |
name Of De Sturges. She was nurse to a |
,hild who died on the passage, and was thus
brown out OF employment; she advertised,
md my wife saw her, liked her. and en-
ragged her."
"You continue to like her9"
"Capitally;. she's perfect genius, with
Elective magic in her fingers"
did you see her former employersq,
Eyes; both De Sturges and his wife, chat
y, agreeable people, Of some means. appa-
entity; and are going to settle in New Or
Describe her, if you please" said Belts.
With keen interest, which surprised me. d
oh" he added, as / stared at him, "give a
ne leave to be curious"
with all my heart. Marie is small, | q
lack-eyed, black-haired, cOmpactly built, G
18th remarkably neat hands and feet She 8
I'D saucy, Laughing face, and her hair is t
,ort, crisp and curly" n
How about her vOicer p Il
Very clear and ringing. She does not
weak English fueptly, but understands ,
'ery word that is said to her." !,
Now, about her little ways" !
"A thorough French woman, with knack \
pleasing everybody. don't know when 6.
H." FN
Belts laughed uneasily, then bent his Il
'ad on his hand, his elbow resting On his II
lee. u
Mr. Powers" said he at last, looking up m
iln peculiar flash in his eyes, II am GO sc
10 take you into my confidence, but you re
ust De discreet, or You will ruin me. I've al
'orn to see this thing through or resign
position. I'm sick of this internal foOlery ST
ealing myself detective and letting he
tan reign night and day all over the city. co
e newspapers drive me mad They know tn
thing about the obstacles we contend sh
tn, and goad us into premature steps. St
!ich cost us our reputation and end in Fl
lure. I've been working in the dark these
ie weeks, but, by Heavens, believe Won | DO
We shown me glimmer of light" SO,
His manner indicated intense excitement: | de,
words came spssmodically, his face wi,
rked, and he had to draw his hands two lea
three times across his mouth before he wo
Id 60 on. Then, producing a note. book. we
opened it at well worn leaves. ba,
There have BEEN" he began, looking at re )
with a sort of smile, five great rob-
les within the last six months, and each a L
has these special features charscteriz- De
1t ~ the work ofsthe same hands as the CIR
er four: pla
First, the combination Of seven to eleven fro
'ked men, all adroit burglars; second, Ill,
ISOLATED house lie attacked, sure to con- str
ample provision for q successful rob- ] fac