The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-12-29
SIR WILLIAMS CLEW.
How He Recovered His Stolen
Property by the Aid OF Dog.

Property by the Aid OF Dog.
The 25th of March, ls2-, was
marked by a thaw succeeding severe
frost OF three weeks duration. At
Lehman court, a mansion situated fif-
teen miles or so from London, on the
west side. great Inconvenience and
some damage had been caused by the
bursting of a water-pipe during the
day. In especial, one room was rem
dered so damp that its usual occupant.
Spencer Lady Brown-Salter's lady's
maid--was compelled TO change her
sleeping place. Instead of sharing one
Of the housemaid's beds she chose, with
her ladyship's permission, to make up
bed for herself in the small room, or
large cupboard, situated at the end of
the corridor which runs through the
whole breadth of Lenha IN court on the
first story. 1t was a room used TO
store trunks and boxes in, and Spencer
placed some of these as n foundation
for her couch. Many Of these trunks
had made the voyage 70 India and
back, for Col Sir William Brown-Sal-
ter had distinguished himself not lit
tie in John Company's service. There
had been much extra work for all the
servants at Lehman court that day, and
it was late before Spencer retired TO
her cupboard.
On getting into her bed she found
her novel couch by no means so COM
Portable as it looked II had 10 be re-
arranged, but on extinguishing her
candle a second time she found herself
as Tar from sleep as ever. While she
twisted and turned she heard The stable
clock strike two. and immediately aft
erward she became conscious Of a sub
dued sound outside her door. Renem-
boring the Jokes at her expense AZ the
supper table about the size of her bed
CHAMBER, it occurred to Spencer that
hen fellow servants might be going TO
play her a trick or indulge in some
practical Joke. SO she Slid from her
uneasy couch, and removing the key
from the loclx-she had locked herself
in on coming t. bed-sne applied her
eye 20 the xeyhole. The door. as we
nave said, faced directly the
length of the corridor; about two yards
from her stood man, but not one Of
her fellow servants; he held lighted
candle in one hand. shading il with the
other so as TO east the light now here,
now there. His face was concealed by
d mask of black Grape and he was list
ening intently A breathlcss minute
or two passed, and, if by magic,
there We're two or three other men in
the corridor, all masked in Grape, be-
hind which their eyes shone in the can
die CLEANS. They went and came and
consulted, noiseless as so many spec
ters. In and out of the rooms, locking
doors behind them, now ascending TO
the third story, now descending 10 The
basement; now the one holding and
shadowing the candle was lett alone
again.
Spencer drew back from the Seyhole
a moment trying to think if there was
anything she could do. Sir Williams
room gave on 10 the corridor; he must
be murdered. thought poor Spencer, or
surely she would have heard some
sound, for he often sat late reading and
it was round his door that the thieves
We're clustered. He was n passionate
man and powerful, beloved by his
servants for his bounty, though feared
on account of his temper. Surely he
woaId have made fight Tor it, if he
had not been taken at some cruel dis
advantage. What could she do? The
alarm bell. even If She could muster
courage to try and get TO il, was quite
At the other end OF the house. Apply
ing her eye once more TO the 5eyhole,
she was terrified TO find not only dark
ness, but in the darkness some one
breathing close TO the door. Then the
handle softly brushed her check as il
was turned, and lock and hinges were
strained by the silent pressure brought
TO bear upon them to such a degree
that instinctively she drew back, eX-
pecting the door to be forced in upon
her. The door crcaked as the pressure
relaxed, and just then the stable clock
struck three.
AS the minutes passed and silence
was unbroken, Spencer gathered cour-
age TO look from her spying place. The
watchman stood alone, candle in hand,
in his former place. She became stiff
and cold at her post; nothing moved
that she could see or hear, except that
the man trimmed his candle now and
then with his fingers and turned his
head watchfully from side to side, his
eyes cleaning behind his mask and
seeming now and again to fix them
selves on her lurking place. At d low
whistle from the basement he and his
light vanished together. Taking the
precaution to stop up the leyhole,
Spencer struck steel and flint till she
obtained a llHAl, lncn llul0ittl Ou II lew
clothes, inserted the key, turned il,
stood one minute outside in silence and
darkness, then snatching up her candle
made rush for the only open door in
the corridor-it was her masters
Bound hand and foot 70 chair and
gagged was SIR William. The room
was in the widest confusion boxes,
casl1ets. chests all turned upside down,
and their contents scattered indiscrim-
inately on the floor Her l;aayship was
in bed. bound and gagged. too. With
nimble f0~crs Spencer set 10 work TO
free her mastcr No sooner was this
accomplished than apeeChless and foam
ing at The mouth Sir William staggered
out OF the room and, 10 her disrnay, she
heard him descend the stairs. Having
released her mistress the lady's maid
next hurried II the rooms Of her fel-
low servants, on all of whom the keys
had been turned. after they had been
threatened with instant death if they