The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-12-18

free her master. No ooner was this
accomplished than. speechless and
foaming at the mouth. Sir William
staggered ont of the room. and to her
dismay she heard him descend the
stairs. Having released her mistress.
the lady's maid next hurried to the
rooms OF her fellow servants, On all Of
whom the keys had been turned after
they had been threatened with instant
death If they, uttered a sound. They
We're soon released. and the men serv-
ants descended in a body to the ground
floor in search of their master. Here
everything was in disorder. On the din
ing room table were the remains of the
thieves supper. but Sir William as
well as the depredators had vanished.
The groom returned from the stables
with the news that his masters ~favorite
hunter was missing. There was no
doubt now that he had gone single
handed in pursuit Of the thieves-as
was indeed the case.
Concluding that they were from Lon
don and were returning thither, Sir
William had saddled his hunter and
had started without an i~nstant's delay,
save to arm himself with u couple of
pistols from the stand of arms in the
ball. When he reached the head of the
avenue, three-quarters of a mile from
the house, he dismounted to open the
heavy gates. Then he perceived, in
the dawning light of the chill March
morning, a strange dog sitting shiver-
ing inside the gates, unable either to
surmount or pass under them. He con
cluded at once that the cur belonged to
his late visitors, and that, having staid
behind. either for his supper or in
search of game. his retreat had been cut
off by the closing of the gates. He re-
solved to follow the clew thus given
him and was confirmed in his resolu-
ton 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 away galloped
Sir William, keeping an eye upon him
always. 1t was broad daylight when
the three reached the outskirts OF Lon
don, and Sir William was hailed by q
voice he knew well. 1t was hat of the
major of his late regiment.
'Hullo. colonel, where are you off to
so early?" Major Higgins was on his
way home after a 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. sufficed 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 few words as possible the news
of the nights occurrence at Durham
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 fam
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 a court
in Leather lane.
Dismounting and giving their horses
in charge of q lad, and having impress
ed a Waterman 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 nc 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 which
they had entered Sir William at last
discovered an outside wooden staircase.
Despite the circumstances of his com
panions. he persisted in creeping eau
tiously up the crazy stairs. There,
curled mp alta door, and apparently fast
asleep, lay the cur which had SO faith.
fully but unconsciously guided him te
his masters lair.
A summons to open the door me
with no response. Sir William, to whom
anger and excitement gave additional
energy, put his knee to the door, bid
ding Major Higgins duck al he did
90. The door yielded with a crash.
A shot passed over the lowered heads Of
the two officers and took effect in thu
cooked hat OF the Waterman. A shor1
scuffie. and the thieves saved their lives
by snrrendering at discretion to Sill
Williams pistols. On a table in their
midst was spread out the whole of the
"swag:'' not an article was missing
A presentation sword of Sir William
the hilt of which was thickly crustee
with gems, was the only part OF thu
booty that had met with i'll usage, bul
every diamond, ruby or emerald tina
had been knocked from its socket still
lay on the worm eaten table, and was
before many days were past, restored tt
its accustomed bed. A few bruises and
dents in the metal work Of the hilt re.
manned, and these Sir William would
show with great glee in after days, tell
ing how the good sword was lost ant
won, while as to the dents and notche'
ON the blade, gained In a more legiti
mate warfare. the good colonel coult
scarce ever be got to speak a word
Chambers Journal.