The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-03-19
MY WIFE,S MAID.


The series of hurglaries which startled
the public in the autumn and early winter
of 1856 was of a description to alarm any
household. The general features of each
robbery was the same. In every case a
gang of seven TO eleven men had broken
into an isolated dwelling containing an un-
usual amount Of silver or jewels; had in
timidated the inmates by threatening them
with firearms; mastered them, secured
them, gagged them, then quietly proceed
ed methodically to strip the house of all
the valuables it contained. Their intelli-
gence of the premises was never at fault.
Secret drawers and sliding panels, suppos-
ed 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 ut their mercy, and
easily torcedby means of drills or gunpOw-
der.
The police seemed indefatigable in in
veStigation and pursuit, yet five of these
audaciOus and astounding rObberies had
succeeded each other without a single
arrest taking place. Plenty of rumOrs
Were abroad that the gang were in the
hands of the authorities, but such state
ments contained not a grain of truth, for
the detectives were absolutely i'm the dark.
My own position filled me with anxiety.
My house is six miles from town, set in
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 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 salvers, etc, testimonials from so
cieties of which had been an active MEM
Der, to say nothing of a complete and va
Iied assortment of small articles i'm silver
and gold. Then my wife's possessions
were those of a princess, for she had been
a daughter OF a millionaire, and ali her
life a spoiled child of fortune. Besides
plate and jewels, our house contained
valuable collection of statuary. paintings,
and bronzeS, and | was only too conscious
of having expended d fortune upon the
surroundings of our daily life, and was in
spired 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 eve
ry jewel we owned would have been sent
into town to NY bankers, butmy wife OBJ
iected, laughed at my apprehensiOns, and
begged me not to worry.
But continued to worry. and pcrpleX-
ed myself with conflicting plans for safety,
and one day while in town went to the
headquarters of the police, and inquired
for Belts, the detective engaged on this
case.
He admitted me into his private room. l
asked for the latest news. Had anybody
been arrested? No. Was anybody to be
arrested? He shrugged his shoulders.
Was any body suspected?
He chucLled softly to himself.
MY dear sir" said he, 1--WE suspect ev-
erybody."
Then" cried /, ''arrest everybody on
suspicion! Good God, | cannot sleep in
my bed, for something assures me my turn
will come next. | can'tdecide what to do,
Belts. My wife won't let the silver and
the diamonds 20 out of the house. and this
very night | may be awakened to find
masked men standing over me, with load
ed pistols, who will rob my house under
my very eycsl''
Belts shook his head: unused little
with his legs crossed and his left forefinger
pressed into his cheek. "Bv-the-bve."
said he, presently, show many servants
have you, Mr.. Powers Please tell me
about them individually"
went over their names, and the detec-
tive checked them of in his memorandum
book as gave tie facts connected 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, my wife's maid,
who had come within the last four weeks.
"Ah - exclaimed Belts. ''where did YOU
Al
"Oh YES; She is French. and has Just
come to this country with family by the
Name of DE Sturses. She was nurse to
a 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 ?"
YES; both De Sturges and his wife
chatty, agreeable people, of some means,
apparently, and are going to settle in New
Orleans.' ....-
= Describe her, If you please" said Belts,
with keen interest, which surprised me.
Oh" he added, as | stared at him, - give
me leave to be curious
With all my heart. Marie is small.
oiaSh-o 00, black-IMfeu, cOmpactlN Dullt,
with remarkably neat hands and feet. She
has a Saucy, laughing face, and her hair is
short, crisp and CURLY
"How about her Voice?;
"Nery clear aud ringing. She does NOT
speak English fiaently. but understands
every word that is said 70 her"
"Now about her little ways"
+" A thorough Frenchwoman. with
knack of pleasing everybody. / don't
know when I've seen such an artleSs, good,
happy little girl .--
Belts laughed uneasily. then bent his
head on his hand, his elbow resting on his
knee. -
" Mr.. Powers. p said he at last, looking
up with a peculiar flash in his eyes, - am
going 10 take you into my confidence, but
you must be discreet, or you will ruin me.
I've sworn TO see this thing through, or
resign my position. I'm sick of this in
fernal foOlery of calling myselfa detective
and letting Satan reign night and day all
over the city. The newspapers drive me
mad! They know nothing about the OBJ
stacles we contend with and goad us into
premature steps, which cost us our reputa-
.Oii: and end in failure. I've been work
ing IN the ark these niue weeks. but. by
heaVehs' believe you've shown me a
giimmer Of light
MS manner indicated intense excite
ment; his wonds came spasmodicallv his
face worked, and he had to draw his hand