The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-02-07


The next day the Quaker and his nephew
were busy, and the detective, still attired
as the country wench, passed through the
panel in the hall, and, instead of turning up
the fight Of stairs which led to the floor
above, he turned down the flight which
led he knew not whittier.
Soon he reached subterranean passage,
and, pursuing it for about go yards, came
to another flight of stairs, which he as
cended, and at the top his head came
against stone flag. This he easily moved,
and found himself at the top of buttress
to one of the walls of the stable. Close by
it was window into which he could easily
step. He did SO, and found himself over
the stable, in what was used as a loft for
hay He hunted around to see whether
any goods were slowed away or secreted,
but was soon satisfied that there was moth
ing there of value Descending from the
loft, by ladder placed for the purpose, he
returned to the house. When he reached
it he found the Quaker greatly disturbed,
as he had just discovered that his pocket
had been picked of over 9300, which he
had placed there the night before on going
to bed, for security.
A week passed, then six men came down
to Lutterworth from London. They were
experienced thief-takers, but they appeared
to be ordinary laboring men, and went to
work unobseryed to mend the road near the
Quaker's house When night came they
left off work and trudged away. An hour
later, however, they were very cleverly ems
consed in the neighborhood of the Quaker's
stable
The Quaker and his cousin retired to rest
at an early hour, as usual. About the
same time three men, dressed like gypsies
and talking their lingo, approached the
stable and awaited where they could see
the buttress. Presently the stone at the
top was raised, and Cousin John emerged.
The next moment he stepped in at win
dow of the loft, and a minute later Joined
the three gypsies. They spoke together
for half an hour, and separated at the door
of the stable Before they could utter a
cry the six men were upon them. March,
ing them up to the house, they found the
Quaker waiting at the door in expectancy.
As his eye lit upon his cousin he ex-
claimed ssAs thought p
They were stubborn and hardened lot,
but the London officers had dozen more
Of the gang in custody before daybreak in
the morning, and among them was one
renegade from civilized life who turned
kings evidence.
The secret of the old mansion had been
known to this gang for years, and had been
communicated from father to son. In a
murder committed in the neighborhood,
however, the gang had to quit it for many
years. Then one of the most daring of
them resolved to explore the secret ways
of the old mansion, and by that means en-
tered an old apartment in which were
papers belonging to the father of the occu-
pant.
Among these were letters which disclosed
the fact that he had had a brother who had
gone to the West Indies, and with the as
sistance of the renegade already mentioned,
who was man of education and had moved
in good society, it was arranged that one
of the gang should pass off as the son of
the dead uncle, and thus aid the gang in
scheme of robbery. How it worked the
reader knows. The money and stolen pro-
perty were all recovered after some very
clever detective work. Cousin John, under
the name of Philip Hassan, and half of
the gang were sent over the seas. The
rest of them were whipped at the carts
tail and driven out of the country.
The Quaker after this better understood
Johns tastes for horses and knowledge of
birds and flowers. The talk about ghosts
puzzled linn for time, but .afterward he
came to the conclusion, as he said on the
trial, that Cousin John wished to prepare
beforehand an explanation of any noises
which he or his confederates might make
at night, or of a chance glimpse which the
cook or her master might get of an unfa-
miliar figure about the corridors.