The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-22
SIR WILLIAMS CLEW,

OlIO w xA01AM ~ OA0 We
How He Recovered His Stolen
Property by the Aid Of a Dog.
Tho 25th of March, 1872, was
marked by thaw succeeding severe
frost of three weeks duration. At
Lehman court, a mansion situated Gf-
teen miles or 80 from London, ON the
west side. great inconvenience and
some damage had been caused by the
bursting of 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
a 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 N court on the
first story. 1t was room used to
store trunks and boxes in, and Spencer
placed some of these as foundation
for her couch. Many of these trunks
had made the voyage to 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 Lenham 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 1t had TO be re-
arranged, but ON extinguishing her
candle second time she found herself
as far from sleep as over. While she
twisted and turned she heard the sta BILE
clock strike two. and Immediately aft
erward she became conscious Of sub
dued sound outside her door. Remem-
bering the jokes at her expense at the
supper table about the size Of her bed
chamber, it occurred to Spencer that
her fellow servants might be going to
play her q trick or indulge in some
practical joke. So she slid from her
uneasy couch, and removing the key
from the lock-she had locked herself
in on coming to bed-she applied her
eye to the keyhole. The door. as we
have said, faced directly the whole
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 1t with the
other 50 as to cast the light now here,
now there. His face was concealed by
a mask of black Grape and he was list
ening intently. A breathless minute
or two passed. and, az if by magic.
there were 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
tho third story, now descending to the
basement; now the one holding and
shadowing tho candle was left alone
again.
Spencer drew back from the keyhole
. moment, trying to think if there was
anything she could do. Sir Williams
room gave on to 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
were clustered. He was a passionate
man and powerful, beloved by his
servants for his bounty, though feared
on account of his temper. Surely he
would have made q fight for 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 it. was quite
at the other end of the house. Apply
ing her eye once more to the keyhole,
she was terrified TO find not only dark
ness, but in tho darkness some one
breathing close to the door. Then the
handle softly brushed her cheek as it
was turned, and lock and hinges were
strained by the silent pressure brought
to bear upon them to such . degree
that instinctively she drew back, ex-
pecting the door to be forced in upon
her. The door creaked 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 a low
whistle from the basement he and his
light vanished together. Taking the
precaution to stop up the keyhole.
Spencer struck steel and flint till she
obtained light. then huddled on few
clothes, inserted the key, turned it.
stood one minute outside n 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 to chair and
gagged was Sir William The room
was in the widest confusion boxes,
caskets. chests all turned upside down.
and their contents scattered inclscrini-
inately on the floor. Her ladyship was
in bed, bound snd gagged, too. With
nimble fingers Spencer set 20 work 20
free her master No sooner was this
than speechless and foam
ing at the mouth Sir William staggered
out of the room and. TO her disnay. she
heard him descend the stairs. Having
her mistress the ladv's maid