Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-02
MY WIFE'S MAID.

THE series of burglaries which startled
the public in the autumn and early win
ter of the year 1856 was Of d description
to alarm any household. In each case a
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 mGthOdically to
strip the house of all the valuables it con-
tanned Their intelligence of the prem
Uses 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
My own position filled me with anxiety.
My 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
salvers, etc, testimonials from socie-
ties of which / had been an active mem
Der, to say nothing Of a complete
and varied assortment of small articles in
silver and gold Then my wife's posses
sions were those of princess, for she
had been the daughter of a millionaire,
and all her life spoiled child of fortune.
Besides plate and jewels, her house con-
tanned valuable collection of statuary,
paintings and bronzes, and | was only
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
filled with speculatiOns concerning these
mysterious burglaries, soon became the
victim of an exaggerated dIsquietude.
Had my own wishes been carried out
every ounce of silver and every jewel we
owned would have been sent into town to
my 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 for
safety, and one day while in town went
to the headquarters of the police and in
quired for Belts, the detective engaged
on this case
He admitted me into his private room.
| asked for the latest news Had any
body been arrested? No. Was anybody
TO be arrested? He shrugged his Shout
ders Was anybody suspected?
He chuckled softly to himself.
My dear sir" said he, 1--WE suspect
everybody"
"Then, ;" cried |, "arrest everybody on
suspiciOnl Good God / cannot 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 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 eyesr'
Belts shook his head; unused little
with his legs crossed and his left fore
finger pressed into his cheek. Blythe
bye" said he, presently, "how many SER
wants have you, Mr.. Powers? Please tell
me about them individually"
l 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 butler,
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, nv
wife's maid, who had come within the
last four weeks.
"Ahr' exclaimed Belts, "where did
you get Marie? Was she well recon.
mended ?"
"Oh, yes, she IS French, and has lust
come TO this country with family by the
name of De Sturges. She was nurse to 8
child who died on the passage, and was
thus thrown out of employment; she adj
vertised, and my wife saw her, liked her
and engaged her"
"You continue to like herr"
"Capitally; she's perfect genius, with
effective magic in her fingers"
"Did you see her former EMPLOYERS y
eyes; both De Sturges and his wife. ;
"Describe her, if you please" sale
Belts, with keen interest which sur
prised me.
With all my heart Marie is small
black eyed, black haired, compactly built
with remarkab Y neat hands and feet
She has saucy, laughing face, and he
hair is short, crisp and curly"
"How about her voice."
avery clear and ringing. She does no
speak English fluently, but understand
every word that is said to her"
Now about her little ways"
"A thorough Frenchwomen, with
knack of pleasing everybody. | dom
know when I've seen such an artless
good, happy little girl
Belts laughed uneasily, then bent nj
head on his hand his elbow resting o.
his knee.
"Mr. Powers" said he at last, looking
up with peculiar flash in his eyes, an
going to take you into my confidence, bu
you must be discreet oryou will ruin me