The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-01-20
SIR WILLIAMS CLEW.
How He Recovered His Stolen
Property by the Aid OF a Dog.


Property by the Aid OF a Dog.
The 25th of March, 1872, was
marked by a thaw succeeding a severe
frost of three weeks duration. At
S1senhnm court, mansion situated if
teen miles or SO from London, on the
west side. great Inconvenience and
some damage had been caused by the
bursting OF watcr-pipe during the
day. In especial, one room was rem
dered SO damp that its usual occupant.
SHencer'-Lady Brown-Sa]ter's lady's
1nafd-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
tho corridor which runs through the
whole breadth of Lenha IN court on the
hrst- story. 1t was room used to
store trunks and boxes in, and Spencer
placed some of these foundation
for her couch. Many of these trunks
had made the voyage tc India and
back, for Col Sir William Brown-Sal-
ter had distinguished himself not II lit
tie in John Conlpany'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
neF novel cOucn ny no means SO COM
Portable as it looked. 1t had to be re-
arranged, but on extinguishing her
candle a second time she found herself
as far from sleep as ever While she
twisted and turned she hea I'd the sta BILE
clock strike two. and Immediately aft
onward she became conscious Of a sub
dued sound outside her door. Remem-
herring 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 u trick or indulge in some
practical joke. SO she slid from her
uneasy couch, and removing the key
from the lock-shc had locked herself
in on coming to bcd-shc applied her
eye to the !scyholc. The door. as we
have said, faced directly the whole
length of the corridor; about two yards
from her stood Il ma n, but not one of
her fellow servants; he held n lighted
candle in one hand. shading it with the
other SO as to cast the light now here,
now there. His face was concealed by
a mask of black Grape and he was list
ching intently. A breathless minute.
or. two passed. and, if by magic.
there were two or three other men in
the corridor, all masked in Grape, be-
hind which their eyes sllone in the can
die glcams. They went and came and
consulted, nOiseless many spec
ters.- In and out of the rooms, locking
doors behind them, now ascending to
the third story, now descending to the
basement; now the one holding and
shadowing the candle was left alone
again.
Spencer drew back from the l<eyhole
a 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 passionate
man and powerful, beloved by his
servants for his bounty, though feared
on account of his temper Surely he
would have made fight for it, if he
had not been taken at some cruel dis
What could she do? The
alarm bell, even if she could muster
courage to try and get to it. was quito
at the other end of the house. Apply
ing her eye once more to the lxeyholc,
she was terrified to find not only dark
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-
pccting the door to be forced in upon
her. The door crcakcd as the pressure
relaxed. and just then the stable clock |
struck three.
AS the minutes passed and silence
was unbrolken, Spencer gathered cour-
age to look from her spying place. The
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 1nan 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 low
whistle from the basement he and his |
light vanished together. Taking the |
to stop up the keyhole. |
Spencer struck steel and flint till she |
obtained light, then huddled on a few
inserted the key, turned it, |
stood one minute outside in silence and
darkness, then snatching up her candle
made a rush for the only open door in
The corridor-it was her masters.
Bound hand and foot to a chair and
gagged was Sir William. The room
was in the widest confusion-boxes,
chests all turned upside down,
and their contents scattered indiscrin-
nasc1y on the floor. Her ladyshi p was
n led, bound and gagged, too. With
airnblc fingers Spencer set to work to