The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-19

Then Mr. te.Iweauner invited us TO sup
with him, and we sat down to good meal
admirably cooked by the French valet, a
silent, respectful servant, who never open
ed his lips, but seemed to anticipate our
every want.
Supper over, the watching began, and
we made nice little party, drawing round
a cozy fire on the great Landing, an ad-
vantageous spot as we could hear there
anv noise or attempt on the house. AS
Tor myself I knew that 1 was about to
make fine haul, and, lighting big
cigar, said:
aYou old fool, Ben Whatever were you
thinking about to blab like that?"
If was midnight, and all the lights in
the lower part of the house were out.
The French valet slept, or pretended to
sleen. for we had told him to keep his ears
omen in the buffers pantry by the kitchen.
The rest of us huddled round the fire,
speaking in whispers, smoking like chin
news. listening to every sound, to every
moan of the wintry breeze.
"They'll try the library window for a
certainty whispered Mr.. Bellweather
to me as the clock struck the quarter past,
but said: Hardly The pantry win.
dow is the more likely" And with that
we fell to listening again, and all was
silence.
ASH waited and watched became anx-
ious and still more anxious about those
lower windows and descended the stairs
twice to make sure that no one was trying
the pantry, yet each time was treasured
by the appearance Of the valet, who came
up from below as I was about to go down,
and remarked in very bad English, !" Yer
right He was a faithful fellow, that
valet, and he watched we'll.
When the hour of 3 o'clock came, we
were nearly all asleep--that is to say, the
rest Of them were nodding in their chairs,
and Mr.. Bellweather was absolutely snor-
ing. I alone was possessed Of my full
wakeful powers, and as the wind lulled
for moment, and the deep bell Of the big
clock struck the quarter past alone heard
q faint scratching noise coming from be-
low
Hist, what's thatp'
The dreamers were awake in q second.
My comrades pulled out their revolvers
and cooked them. Mr.. Bellweather went
on tiptoe to the head Of the stairs and
| listened. The scratching sound became
| louder and louder. We heard the splinter
| ing of wood My heart beat wildly. Oh,
that old fool Benz
What's the plan?' asked one of my
comrades in whisper when we were quite
sure that door was being forced, and
| said: "Let them enter and seize them as
they como to the top of the stairs / hope
that valet will keep quiet.
"He'll be all right said Mr. Bell
weather under his BREATH adding as ii
1 thought came to him, ssI'll slip out on
to the balcony window and see what
! they're up to. y
: He had left us before could stop him,
! and in another moment heard the bal
! cony window open. The scratching still
went on, though, and just as real crash
Z, came and the window must have been
! forced open tho loud voice of the French
valet was heard crying: "Robbaires
| T'ieves!'' while the sh-ill sound of po
| liceman's whistle fell on the night air.
At that moment rr. Bellweather re-
turned from the balcony. They're
| alarmed" he cried, land are running fol
the small garden gate. After them, fol
your livesl'
Determined not to lose Ben at any risk,
| rushed out, my comrades following me-
| and as we emerged we were met by two
policemen, who had been Watching nea'