The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-29
THE STOLEN GEMS

splesbI and horrible echOlng whispering
s0und. IS the water drawn up by the two
men at the winch rose some 10 feet higher,
where each bucket in turn was caught by
check and reversed to pour its contents
into huge cisteTn to supply the drinking
water at the castle
l. Charles Lester, had climbed the down
after my early-morning visit to the sea be-
meath The cliffs. where plunge down into
the clear depths had sent an electric thrill
through me. There / had swum and dived
for 10 minutes, dressed In the warm sun
shine and tTamped back over the cllit slope
where Lord GurteIgh's flock or South-
downs we're nibblBg the short deWy NERD
age aud giving their mutton a gamy uaVor
by cruucbng up the thousands OF IIhH Shall
shells rs well. -
was satisfied with the look Of the flock
laughed 60 myself as / thought "nat
farmer. bailiff. and general man OF business
I was growing in dear Cd DICK interest,
and tbpn had gone round so as 10 pass
fbrours the gardens and let the men see
81 know they'll call me a nigger-driYer,
I said 10 myself, "but they. We All hau zoe
easy time of II during DrcA shnn ruofi,iiiT,
and things have Oeeh shahieIuIy
neglected " And then l unused me- plans
respecting the management OF the
estate as | went back TO the castle. making
M nv mind that as GuTtielEh had placed
evervtIingin my hands. l would nave none
bat GOOD men about tie place. Everything
sb Md be honest and abavebO ara; aud so
II fell ont that was walking back to my
room. through the yard, at 7 O'Clock that
bright summer morning. meaning 10 90 a
couple Of hOuls' writing aud account read
Ing when l heard the sQueakng ana creah-
ING of tie wheel in the wellhOuse with It's
high-pilched roof.
iturued sharply, entering the great stone
Uayed set place. where man vas Grlhuing
away on either side Of the opening, aud
came plump-thars the correct WoTd, ana
his appearance justified it-upOn Brayson
the butler. standing there, slowly s!ppng a
fumbIer Of water, and looking as clean
shaver and smooth Is II he were Dy Inc
sidehoarl in the diniUg-rO0m, waiting atone
of the meals.
Good morning, SIT.
my men. why, in heavens name, don you
grease that Wheel?'
The men ceased turning, and the one near
est touched his forehead.
BE no good, sir. Her sQueal again dreck-
crlv, all Oh account o the water.
"Then grease 1t again, or oil 1t, or some
Never have been creased. -" said the man
On the other side. slowly, and IN way
which seemed to say, What business IS II
Of yours
/
morning" ] said, sharply. The whole Of
ne machine IS eaten zap with rust. W here's
your conmOn-senSe, men2 My, your work
Hill be as easy again. Do you do thls often,
Bravsou?' ] said
Every morning, slT,' he replied, oOse-
9uious!y. Winter and summer, l always
nave a glass Of this water first thing Finest
drink In the world for your health. VIII
sou try a glass, sIr?'
'Weli-ves.'
Before I had finished speaking he was
-jnsiug the JumbieT in q freshly filled tub
hen taking clean napkin from his pocket
&c wiped and polished it. Finally, as one
II the buckets rose cut Of the BLACK, vapOr-
BUS deplls of the opening lnc0Sed Oy the
framework of the vince, he sign q 10 the
men to stop. and dipped the glass fJli, hold
nE 10 for q few minutes in the open door
Eay, while a frosty dew "a idly formed on
he side If the iuUlbieE
There, sir" he said S1lemn.y, and he
handed iu 20 me as il IT were 3 glass OF his
ordship's choicest champagne
/ took the glass ana drank It's contents,
Capital water, BTysOn."
Finest glass IN the country, sir"
and nice and cool"
Always the same, sir, winter or sum-
ner Comes from 80 deep down. It's Just
hundred feet
Now after the dry weather."
's"NsVcr alters, SIT; just keeps 10 the same
height. and there's about 50 foot of water
i0Tn tLere-uever-fai.ing supply"
"HuUph! Cut right down the solid
chalk" / said. as l gaZed into the black
depths Of the huge shaft, which was about
10 feet in diameter and bTeathed the cool,
fresh air which rose
"Yes. sir, and she's never foul, D." said the
man nearest TO ne. I've been down 81 hen
they HeRded the bottom wheel Can't DO
that at Sir R0mney'S place; two men choked
there only last year"
Year aiOre,'' grOwied the other man.
"Ob, weeT it2 So it waer."
TGe9 the winding went on as l peeTed
down Into the gloomy place. listening to the
dull, heavy plunge Of the buckets as they
reached the water. and then 20 the ech0ing,
splsshiuE and hollow musical sound a. tie
water streamed and dripp5d brCk when
they rose,
Clumsy arrangement" I said, as I
turned away with a shUddeT; for the place
vas creepy and terrible ana strange.
There ought to be a f0rcepump turned by
pony or a donkey, as At CarisbTOOEe. on
by the way Braysor," / continued, as I
was crossing the yard toward the gates. 81
want 10 90 over the wine cellar"
The WiIe-Cellar, sir?" he said and his
fat face-cbanged color.
Yes, 10 take stock Your l0Tdshp talks
Of laying down fresh supply. Have your
cellar-b0ck ready, and well begin at once"
There Has a slight dew on the mans face,
or fancicd there was. and I said 70 myself
as l went round 10 the front:
master BTaysOu has been helping him
self to a few bottles Of port, and I've got to
find him out. Deueed unpleasant, all this
running tilt al the servants. l wish l had
gone on reading for the law"