The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-04-24
Ely WIFE'S MAID.


The series of burglaries which startled
the public in the autumn and early
winter of the year 1856 was of a de
scription to alarm any household. In
each case a sang of from seven to
eleven masked men had broken into an
isolated dwelling containing an unusual
amount of silver or Jewels; had intimi-
dated the inmates by threatening them
with firearms !; mastered them, secured
them, gagged them, then quietly pro-
ceeded methodically to strip the house
of all the vaIuables it contained. Their
intelligence of the premises 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 equal
ly at their mercy, and easily forced by
means of drills and gunpowder.
My own position filed me with anx-
iety. My house is six miles from town,
set in the center of wide grounds, re-
mote from any habitation but the gard
ener's cottage at the gate. Both my
wife and myself had inherited large
amount of bulky family plate, and be-
sides this useless metal, which never
came out of the safe, I had several
costly services presented on the ocea-
sion of our marriage, three large sal
vers, ETC., testimonials from societies of
which 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 a princess, for she had
been the daughter of a millionaire, and
all her life a spoiled child of fortune
Besides plate and jewels, her house con-
tanned a valuable collection of statuary,
paintings and bronzes, and I 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 news
papers filed with speculations concern
ing these mysterious burglaries, 1 soon
became the victim of an exaggerated
disqui5 5tude. 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 apprehen-
sions, and begged me not to worry.
But I continued to worry, and per-
picked myself with conflicting plans for
safety, and one day while in town 1
went to the headquarters of the police
and inquired for Belts, the detective
engaged on this case.
He admitted me into his private
room. I asked for the latest news.
Had anybody been arrested +? No.
shrugged his shoulders. Was anybody
suspected I? ~
He chuckled softly to himself.
"My dear sir, said he, "we suspect
everybody"
Then" cried I, s'arre every
body on suspicion Good God L
cannot sleep in my bed, for something g
assures me my turn viii come next. [
can't decide what to do, Belts. My
wife won't let the silver and diamonds
go out of the house, and this very night
1 may be awakened to find masked men
standing over me with loaded pistols,
who would rob my house under my very
eyes
Belts shook his head unused little
with his legs crossed and his left fore
finger pressed into his cheek. 'fBy-
the-by," said he presently, chow many
servants 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 I gave the facts con-
nected with them. e aunders, the but
Ter, 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, g where did
you get Marie Was she well recon-
mended ?"
ooh, yes. she is French, and has Just
come to this country with family by
the name of De Sturges. She was
nurse to q child who died on the pas
sage, and was thus thrown out of en-
ployment; she advertised. and my wife
saw her, liked her. and engaged her"
You continue to like her 2"
Z" Capitally; she's a perfect genius,
with effective magic in her fingers
Did you see her former employers p
80 Yes ; both De Sturges and his wife. y
Describe her, If you please" said
Belts, with keen interest which sur
prised me.
With all my heart. Marie is small,
black-eyed, black haired, eompactly
built, with remarkably neat hands and
feet. She has ssucy. Laughing face,
and her hair Is short, crisp and curly.
'' How about her voice p
every clear and ringing. She does
not speak English huentIy, but under
stands every word that is said to her. y
Now about her little ways"
:" A thorough Frenchwoman, with a
knack OF pleasing everybody. / don't
kzow when I've seen such an artless,
good, happy little girl. F"
Belts laughed uneasily, then bent his
head on his hand, his elbow resting on
his knee.
ssRrr. Powers" said he at last, look.
ing up with a peculiar flash IN his eyes,
- / am going to take you into my conf,
! dence, but you must be discreet or you
viii ruin me. I've sworn TO see this
/ thing through or resign my position.
Tn sick of this internal foolery OF call.
| ing myself a detective and letting SataI
reign night and day all over the city,
/ The newspapers drive me mad They
know nothing about the obstacles we
contend with, and goad us into prema
| ture steps, which cost us our reputation
and end IN failure. I've been working