The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-02-14

W piCh up lCW oSot yOu "AiNN
may set up in business over in America.
The other fellows will help me. Meet
me here tomorrow night, to let me
know that all is safe for us. See here.
| have brought you valuable present.
Keep it until the plate is secure with me;
for you must stay here until all blows
over; then make some excuse for leav-
ing, and come over and join me in New
York. If you want money, sell these
diamonds in Liverpool; they are worth
no end of money" a1E33H4
could see quite well that he took
something out of his pocket and gave
it to her. She held it up to look at it;
and there, glistening in bright moon
light, saw-my godmother's diamond
earring the one that had been stolen
over nine years ago, with the other
jewels, from her room. EsjE EHitl
Here, then, at last was the mystery
solved, every thing made clear, and all
through my dream! Presently the light
fell on the mans face again, and
instantly recognized my godmother's
very respectable gardener. A decent
man he was believed to be, but thief
all the time, and one who hid his evil
deeds under a cloak of religion. And
who was this woman he seemed to have
got such power over? Evidently his
wife; for gathered that from his con-,
versation with her. | waited where [
was until they were both gone- Martha,
back to the house and her husband to
the village; then, as quietly as l could,
| returned to the house and reached my,
room. Falling on my knees gave
thanks to God for making me the
means of finding out such wicked plot,
and perhaps saving the lives of more
| than one under that roof, for it is more
than likely that had those desperate
men been disturbed in their midnight,
plunder, they would not have hesitated
at any deed which would enabled them
to carry out their wicked plans. nd s3.
| | slept little, that night, and next
morning tried to appear calm and eonH
| posed, though was frightened and
| really i'll. / was longing for my hus-
and consult what was best to be done,.
to prevent robbery and perhaps blood
shed. At last, to my great relief, 1 saw
| him coming. | ran to the gate to meet
him, and told him what had seen and
heard the night before. g Now,r' /
said, "will you ever laugh at my 'fancies''
! again?'' Is5a39 Httfa uIIa @dek
/ 's,No, my dear little wife, said he;
tsI never will.
We then arranged that we should tell
his mother and sister every thing; and
he was TO 90 the nearest police station
and arrange with the chief officer to
have number of men ready in the wood
near the house at II O'Clock that nights
that after dinner we were to say $ good
bye " to Mrs. Benson and drive home;
but would return and join the police in
the woed, and wait there until We saw
Martha leave the house to meet her hus-
band. We We're then to 60 in and wait
until the thieves came in, when they were
to be surrounded and taken prisoners.
My husband wanted me to remain at
our own house; but l would not do so,
as said would only be imagining all
sorts of dreadful things; besides, l
knew his mother and Mary would ike
to have me with them.
1t all turned out as well as could be.
The night was very fine; and just at IL
O'Clock Martha stole down to the place
where had seen her the night before;
then we all, about dozen policemen
and ourselves, went into the house.
| The. men were stationed out of sight in
different rooms, waiting for the robbers
entrance. Henry came up to Mrs. Ben.
sons room, where all of us women
were, including the two servants. With
breathless anxiety we watched and wait
ed. From where stood could see the
way they would come. a3 5@8Do
1t was about Q O'Clock when I saw
Martha coming, up, the walk, and four
men with her. g Look!n / said .sthere
they are. .''e They went around to the
back door, and we heard them stealing
along the passage in the direction of the
plate-closet. Then a sudden rush--a
scream from the Wretched Martha-im-
precautions loud and bitter--a. shot--an-
, other scream! -
"May God grant no lives will be lost!'
we prayed. lssftI 90 @a 5a53
Poor Mary nearly tainted. At last we
heard the officer call Henry to come
down. The four men were well secured
, and taken to the police-stationt Marths
7 was taken there, too She confessed sht
I had let them in for the purpose Of steal
? ing the silver. One of the robbers wa:
7 slightly wounded in the arm, bat ne
one else was hurt. Very thankful was
| when found next day that none was
: the worse for having gone through sucl
e a terrible scene. es ssii aFaiaGT{
4 The house where Martha HUSBAND
t lodged was searched, and the case o
e diamonds and many other valuable ar
e ticles found there. This immensely re
r specialize gardener had been disgrac
l tohis family and his profession. LET