The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-01-20

free her lnaster No sooner was this
accomplished than specchless and foam
ing at the mouth Sir William staggered
out of the room and, to her tlismay, she
heard him descend the stairs Having
released her mistress the lady's maid
next hurried to the rooms Of her fell
low servants, on all of whom the keys
had been turned, after they had been
threatened with instant death if they
uttered q sound. They were soon re-
leased and the men servants descended
in q body to the ground floor in search
of their master. Here everything was
in disorder. On the dining-room table
were the remains of, the thieves sup
per, but Sir William, rs well as the
depredators, had>vanished. The groom
returned from the stables with tho
news that his masters favorite hunter
was missing. There was no doubt now
that he had gone single-handed in pur-
suit 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 instant's de-
lay. save to arm himself with 4 couple
of pistols from the stand of arms in the
hall 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 tho
davniuR light of the chill March morn
ing a strange dog sitting shivcrinE in
side the gates, unable either to sur
mount 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
resolved to follow the clew thus given
nd iv,h
ton when, the gates being opened,
the animal secured away with his nose
to the ground in the direction of Lon
don Away went the dog. and away
galloped Sir William, keeping an eye
upon him always. 1t was broad day
light when the three reached the out
skirts of London, and Sir William was
hailed by a voice he knew we'll. 1t was
that of the ma jor of his late regiment.
''Hullo, colonel, where are you off
to SO carly?" Maj. Higgins was on his
way homo 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 communicating
his losses and the indignity he, an old
soldier, had suffered sufficcd to mako
the blood, which his swift ride had
kept at fever heat. boil again.
Maj. Higgins did as desired, and,
putting his horse to the galiop, received
in as few words as possible the news of
the nights occurrence at Lehman
court as he and his old colonel made
their way side by side through Oxford
street and the Strand, never once los
ing sight Of the mongrcl that was, no
fancied to be. the clew to the recovery
of his property. Dodging and winding
his way through market carts and
hackney coaches the dog, never once
relaxing his speed, divcrgcd into by
streets and lanes until he disappeared
up Il court in Leather lane.
Dismounting and giving their horses
in charge to a lad, and having inn
pressed a watchinan into their service.
they advanced up the court in single
file. Sir William led the way, cooked
pistol in either hand; Maj. Higgins,
who came next, was unarined; tho
Waterman brought up the rear in a
lcisurcly way that showed him by no
means thirsting for the fray. Door
way after doorway was examined, but
the cur seemed literally to have van
ished. In an angle of the cul-tac-sac
into which they had entered Sir Will
wooden staircase. Despite the remon-
of his companions, ne per-
sisted in creeping cautiously up the
crazy stairs There, curled up at a
door. and apparently fast asleep, lay
the clew who had SO faithfully but un-
consciously EulOeO MIN 10 MS master 5
lair
A summons to open the door met
with no response. Sir William, to
whom anger and excitement gave adj
ditioual energy, put his knee to tho
door. bidding Maj. Higgins duck
he did SO. The door yielded with
crash; a shot passed over the lowered
heads Of tho two officers and took
e fleet in the cooked hat of the watch
man. A short scuffle, and the thieves
saved their lives by surrendering at
to Sir Williams pistol. On Il
Ia BILE in their midst was spread out the
whole of their ''swag;" not an article
was missing. A presen tation sword of
Sir Williams, the hilt of which was
crusted with gems, was the
only part of the booty that had met
with i'll usage; but every diamond.
ruby or emerald that h ad been knocked
from its socket still lay on the worm
eaten table, and was, before many
days were past, restored to its accus-
toned bed. A few bruises and dents
in the metal work of the hilt remained
and these Sir William would show
with great glee in after days. telling
how the good sword was lost and won,
while as to the dents and notches on
The blade. gained in a moro legi innate |
the good colonel could scarce |
~ ever be got to speak a word.
bers' Journal.
A Rustic Imitation. !
A eountryman who had loitered into
IN Episcopal church one Sunday morn
ing was surprised to observe that many
IF the worshipers, after seating them |
4 L