, 1874-03-15
MY WlFE'S MAID.

.
The series Of burglaries which startled the
public in the autumn and early winter winter OF
the year 1856 WAS Of description to alarm anJ
household. The general features OF each rob
berry were the same. In every case gang ol
from seven to eleven masked men had broker
into an isolated dwelling containing an unusual
amount ot silver Of jewels; had intimidated the
inmates by threatening them with firearms
mastered them, secured them, gagged them, thsr
quietly proceeded methodically to strip the houae
Of all the va1uables it contained Their inteli
gencs Of the premises
WAS NEGEn FAULT.
Secret drawers and sliding panels, supposed tc
be known only to tile family, wore sought and
opened at once, and safes, whether built into the
walls or exposed in Closets were equally at their
mercy, and easily forced py means Of drills and
gunpowder.
The police seemed indofatigablo in ii yestiga-
ton and pursuit, yet five Of these audacious and
astounding robberies had succeeded each other
without = single arrest taking place, Plenty Of
ruuo1s we're abroad that the gang were in the
hands Of the authorities, but such statements
contained not q grain of truth, for the detec-
My oMn position filed mo with anxiety. Ny
house is six milea from town, set in the centre
OF wide grounds remote from any habitatiop but
the gardeners cottage at the gate. Both my
wife end myself had inherited large amount OF
buikY family plate, and besides this useless
metal, which never came ont Of the safe, had
several costly Eervices presented on the OCCASION
OF our marriage three large en1yers, ETC., testi-
monials from socleties Of which I had been an
active member, to Say nothing Of complete
and varied assortment OF email articles in silver
and gold Then my wife's possessions
WERE THOSE OF PRINCESS,
for she had been the daughter OF millionaire,
and all her life spoiled child Of fortune. Be-
sides plate and jewels, her house contained d
valuable collection OF statuary, paintings, and
bronzes, and was only too conscious Of having
expended a fortune upon the surroundings Of our
daily life, and WAS inspired With grave doubts as
to its safety. Broodlng over such thoughts and
reading the newspapers, filled with speculations
concerning these mysterious burglaries, soon
became the victim Of an exaggerated disqnesude.
Had my own wiHhea been carried out, every
ounce OF silver and every jowel We owned would
have been sent into town to my bankers, but my
wife objected, laughed ut my approhensions. and
begged mo not to worry.
Dut ! continued to worry, and perplexed my
self with conflicting plans for safety, and one
ths r1otrs "I and ;non;re for BaIts tha datoct,ra
enra~cd m tl,;s case.
IL e.dm;ttcd mc into his or;rate room ,ekad
for the latest news. Had anybody been arrest
eu7 No. Was auybody to bo arrested? j? He
shrugged his shonlae1s. VS.. anybody suspcct-
ed
He chuckled softly to himself.
t'MY dear sir" said ho,
I'VE SUSPECT EVERYBODY"
"Then," cried I, "arrest everybody On suspi-
sonnat1,,,, assu1oa me- nv nm viii cona no1t
n.o.r ,sc;da ,vhst r. A. Reita Nv vie wonT
~ ~ s;iror and ia diamonds 20 ont NJ IN
house m @ and this W yery hight NAV be- awakened to
fnI ,,osneif Toon standino over ma viii, loaded
nnu n"ssSo 3 gn r so nndsr @'n nv
erss e.a.oI1 i'' VIZ "-1A 10 '''' .@0r ' 'o1'
pott. s3,o,, b;s hood mnaod . 1;4t1a with b;a
,oe cTosse and b,s lcft foreinfar pressed into
liz cleaIr .:Rr-the,hve. y sai3 ho nrepantl-
:. tlh 80 aun.n sarrants iava Tn1. H. epnva-.;
p1-aaa ,a1i M short tban, ;,fivdun1lv
I've vent over Their names. and tbs detective
c,acLci thcnn ar IN fg r,an1orandfrn7- hank ~
800 ~ fon.s capncctea viii, them SnnndeTa
tha h b,,1'ar had hecn Win 1s savanteen venrs
the se conl f;va vcara coachmnn and groom
seven @ ' and the chambermaid. thrce-au fi1.
t1,ros h ia household but Marie. nv Vifa's
maid who had como within tho last four weeks.
''' ~ h :" e1c1amod Eatts. "where did Won get
,yr1;a3 v.s aha we}i Recommended ?H
ssOh raa xho ii French and hiss jrst coroa
T., ttHs cnrutrv with family by Tie ue:no Of De
si,1@ss 81 ,rs s So was nurse TO child Who died On
,,1,r1nn,,t she advertised. and nv Tifa saw her.
fH;s:i Hu, 1.s ~ Ia oae are-,1od hor !" @"9~'
ssYon con:1nna to Iika ler7"
ucon;tsi1y
st,E's \ prrrrcr oES1rs.
With ofyoc+;ro ,, rn,oio in i,or fin1ers;'
VII nd e1u 1o', saa ier former em1inTrra 7n
.yas hoth n S!urges and Tia wife -chattv
.or,ashi;, ,nan}s ~ anne means annaTentiv