The Bossier banner., 1894-12-13
NEATLY PLANNED.


I had just reached my office after
lunch one miserably wet day last No
vember, when visitor was announced.
"Mr. Engstrom" was inscribed on the
card-a name quite unknown to me.
''Mr De Warre?" said my visitor, a
shrewd looking, well groomed man,
who apparently had not yet touched
forty,
what is my name," l answered.
"Please take a seat and tell me what /
can do for you "
II am in great trouble" said Mr..
Engstrom. 1--WE had burglars at our
house at Lyndhurst, in the New For
est, the night before last. They broke
in while we were at dinner and several
thousand pounds worth of jewels are
gone from my wife's bedroom. But what
distresses us is that a valuable heir
loom, pearl necklace of great value,
that has been in our family for two
hundred years, is among the plunder.
The other jewelry we could bear to
lose, but not this. To tell you the
truth" he added, with smile, Il
must own to being little supersti-
tious, and there is a legend in our
family that this necklace was gift to
an ancestress of mine by Charles H.,
and whoever shall lose it his days
shall be very short and full of evil. 1t
is said it was lost about the beginning
of the century, and the legend came
true. My wife is more superstitious
than myself, and 1 am afraid if it is
not recovered it may seriously affect
her health. Of course the police have
been at work, but / have not very
great confidence in them, and up to
the present they have discovered moth
ing. If you can aid me l shall be
very glad.
81 am," said Mr. Engstrom, 'the de
scendaut of an old landed family who
have lived in Hampshire for genera
tions. We are not as wealthy as we
once were, and fiud employment fol-
my time by being on the board of di
rectors of several companies. | have
only been married short time, nor
quite year, and we have been living
very quietly. On Tuesday night, wher
the burglary occurred, there were only
five of us at dinner. Besides my wife
and myself were the rector and hi:
wife and Capt. Olyer, the son of an ole
friend, whom lately met in the cit.
and invited down. He has been will
us over week, and leaves to join hi
regiment on Saturday.
1--WE bad just reached dessert ant
Capt. Olyer was inquiring of the but
ler if Wisden (his man servant) hat
returned from London, when my wife
maid came in gasping: oh, ma'am
your jewels are gone-robbers? ant
sank fainting on the floor.
Goodness graciousr | exclaimed
and we sprang up.
"'Let us search out of doors a
once, said the captain. Bring us ;
light, john he said to the butler, anG
rushed out. We followed him.
1T was quite dark. and we had no
gone dozen steps before he fell down
Look out he cried, the brutes hav'
laid wires. They have caught one foo
at any rate he remarked as he got mp
went hack for a light, and SUR
enough there were wires around tha
side of the house.
The captain was holding his nose
He was but little hurt, he said, for
luckily, he had fallen on the grass. A
the captains suggestion / summoned
two men servants.
81 found lantern, and we searched
the grounds and the surrounding roads
We found nothing, save ladder unde
one of the windows. and small
brooch which the thief or thieves has
dropped. No suspiciouslo looking perso1
had been seen in the village or at th
station, and the two policemen VIII
came could do nothing beyond lookin:
wise. / called at the police station
this morning. but they have no clew
nor is it likely they will have one. Al
have learned from them is that the.
believe that two were engaged in tn
affair from the footmarks.
at viii be too dark by the time w
could reach Lyndhurst to investigate,
| said, but will come on by the frs
train in the morning.
Il wish you to promise me one thing
not to mention to anyone the object
my visit. Call me fellow director o
anything you like"
| found Mr.. Engstrom at the static
the next morning with dog cart.
forebore to talk on the subject of m
visit save to ask one question.
"Whv did vo1 keen Such a yaluab bl
necklace at home, Mr.. Engstrom?
Il kept il in the Safe Deposit i
Chaneery lane, he answered, 'and onl
brought 1t home Saturday because N