The herald., 1893-12-22

Noaeh IL ouoy utloTcu u bUuuu. L uoy
were soon released, and the men serv-
ants descended in body to the ground
floor in search of their master. Here
everything was in disorder. Onthe din
ing room table were the rem aims of the
thieves supper, but Sir William az
well asythe depredators bad vanished.
The groom retnrpad from the stables
with the NEVIS chat hismasterls .favorite
hunter was missing. There was nc
doubt new that he had gone single
handed in pursuit of the thieves--as
was indeed the case.
Conoludingsthat they were from Lon
don and wsuo returning thither, Sir
William had saddled lis hunter and
had started without an instant's delay,
save to agp llimself'with G couple Of
pistols from tho stand of arms in the
hall. Observation-Disclosures of the
avenue, ,4thfec1fi iuaSters M a mile from
the house, he 'dlsmcupHed#to open the
heavy gates, l1hen hssperceived, in
the dawning ligbt sof III, chill March
morning, a stfANge dag ssi8ang shiver-
ing inside the4Sates, 5Supdhle either to
surmount orpass underS Sthdfn. He con-
cluded at once tHSzst tHzts t3ie cdr tbe4onged to
his late visitUrs, ssnf3stkat, yfsving staid
behind, either fnt his supper OF in
search Of gsmeshissrefreatshad been cut
off by the closing OF the gates. He re-
solved to follow the Glow thus given
him and was confirmed in his resolu-
ticn when, the gates being opened, the
animal secured away with his nose to
the ground in the direction of London.
Away went the dog, and axsy galloped
Sir William, keeping an'eye upon him
always. 1t was broad daylight when
the three reached the outskirts Of Lon
don, andFSir William was hailed by a
voice he knew well. 1t was-that of the
major of his late regiment.
"Hullo, colonel, where are you off to
SO early?" Major Higgins was on his
way home after nights play at Brooks.
Turn your horses head, and I'll tell
you," returned Sir William, through
his set teeth. The idea of communicat-
ing his losses and the indignity he, an
old soldier, had suffered, suficed to
make the blood, which his swift ride
had, kept at fever heat, boil again.
Major Higgins did as desired, and
putting his. horse to the gallop received
in as fewwords as possible the news
Of the nights occurrence at Dunham
Court, as he and his old colonel made
their way side by side, through Oxford
street and the Strand, never once losing
sight of the mongrel that was, he fan
cied, to be the clew to the recovery of
his property. Dodging and winding his
way among market carts and hackney
coaches, the dog, never once relaxing
his speed, diverged into bystreets and
lanes, until he disappeared up court
in Leather lane.
Dismounting and giving their horses
in charge OF lad, and having impress
ed a watchman into their service, they
advanced up the court in single file. Sir
William led the way, a cooked pistol
in either hand; Major Higgins, who
came next, was unarmed; the watch
man brought up the rear in a leisurely
way that showed him by no means
thirsting for the fray. Doorway after
doorway was examined, but the cur
seemed literally to have vanished. In
an angle of the cul-de-sac into whicE
they had entered Sir William at last
discovered an outside wooden staircase.
Despite the remonstrances of his COM
panions, he persisted in creeping eau
tiously up the crazy stairs. There,
curled up at door, and apparently fast
asleep, lay the cur which had SO faith
fully but unconsciously guided him to
his masters lair.
A summons to open the door met
with no response. Sir William, to whom
anger and excitement gave additional
energy, put his knee to the door, bid
ding Major Higgins duck" as he did
so. The door yielded with a crash.
A shot passed oyer the lowered heads of
the two officers and took effect in the
cooked hat of the watchman. A short
scuffie, and the thieves saved their lives.
by surrendering at discretion to Sir
Williams pistols. On table in their
midst was spread out the whole Of the
"swag;" not an article was missing.
A presentation sword of Sir William 5,
the hilt of which was thickly crusted
with gems, was the only part of the
booty that had met with i'll usage, but
every diamond, ruby or emerald that
had been knocked from its socket still
lay on the worm eaten table, and was,
before many days were past, restored to
its accustomed bed. A few bruises and
dents in the metal work of the hilt re-
mained, and these Sir William would
show with great glee in after days, tell
ing how the good sword was lost and
won, while as to the dents and notohes
on the blade, gained in more legiti-
mate warfare, the good colonel could
scarce ever be sgot to speak word
Chambers Journal.