Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-04-02
MY WIFE'S MAID.

THE series OF burglaries which startled
the public in the autumn and early win
ter of the wear 1856 was of description
to alarm any household. In each case
gang of from seven to eleven masked men
had broken into an isolated dwelling con-
tanning an unusual amount of silver or
Jewels: had intimidated the inmates by
threatening them with firearms; mas
tered them, secured them, gagged them,
then quietly proceeded methodically TO
STRIP the house OF all the valuables 1t con-
tanned. Their intelligence of the prem
ises was never at fault. Secret drawers
and sliding panels, supposed to be
known only to the family, were sought
and opened at once, and safes, whether
built into the walls or exposed in closets,
were equally at their mercy, and easily
forced by means OF drills and gunpowder.
NV own position filled me with anxiety.
NV house is six miles from town, set in
the center of wide grounds, remote from
any habitation but the gardeners cottage
at the gate. Both my wife and myself
had inherited a 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, testimonials from socle-
ties of which had been an active mem
Der, to say nothing Of complete
and varied assortment OF small articles In
silver and gold, Then my wife's posses
sions were those of princess, for she
had beer the daughter OF millionaire,
and all her life spoiled child OF fortune.
Besides plate and jewels, her house con-
tanned a valuable collection of statuary
- / lU
too conscious of having expended for
tune upon the surroundings OF our daily
life. and was inspired with grave doubts
as to its safety. Brooding over such
thoughts. and reading the newspapers
filed with speculations concerning these
mysterious burglaries, soou became the
victim of an exaggerated disquietude.
Had nv own wishes been carried out
every ounce of silver and every jewel we
owned would have been sent into town TO
nv bankers, but my wife objected,
laughed at my apprehensions, and begged
me not TO worry.
But continued to worry, and per-
picked myself with conflicting plans Tor
safety, and one day while in town / vent
to the headquarters of the police and In;
quired for Belts, the detective engaged
on this case
He admitted me into his private room.
l asked for the latest news. Had any
body been arrested? No. Was anybody
to be arrested? He shrugged his shout
ders. Was anybody suspectedy
He chuckled softly to himself.
"My dear sir" said he, I'VE suspect
everybody"
"Thep.n cried I, "arrest everybody on
II
in NV bed, for something assures me my
turn will come next. | can't decide what
to do. Belts. NY wife won't let the silver
and the diamonds go out of the house,
and this very night | may be awakened To
find masked men standing over me with
loaded pistols who would rob my house
under my very eyesp
Belts shook his head; unused little
with his legs crossed and his left fore
finger pressed into his check. Blythe
bye said he, presently, chow many ser.
wants have you, Mr. Powers? Please tell
me about them individually"
/ went over their names, and the de
tective checked them off in his memo
randum- book as / gave the facts con
nected with them. Saunders, the butter
had been with us seventeen years the
cook, five years; coachman and groom,
seven; and the chambermaid, three-all
fixtures in the household but Marie, my
wife's maid, who had come within the
last four weeks. -,
"Ahr exclaimed Belts, "where did
you get Maries Was she well recon-
nendedsp
"Oh, yes, she Is French, and has just
come to this country with family by the
name Of De Sturgess She was nurse 70
child who died on the passage, and was
thus thrown out of employment; she aa'
vertised, and my wife saw her, liked her,
and engaged her."
"You Continue to like herf
"Capitally; she's q perfect genius, with
effective magic In her fingers"
Did you see her former employers =