The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-17

Witl MIN, ana Wc sat down TO good meal
| admirably cooked. by tho French valet,
silent. respectful servant, who never open
! cd his lips, hut seemed TO anticipate our
every want
supper over, tho watching began, and
VIC made Il nice littlo party, drawing round
coy fire on the great landing, an adj
vantagcous spot, rs We could hear there
any noise or attempt ON the house. AS
for myself, l knew that 1 was about TO
make "a flno haul, and lighting big
cigar said:
'You old fool, Bcu Whatever were YOU
thinking about to blab like that?"
1t was midnight, and all the lights in
tho lower part of tho house wcro out.
Tho French valet slept. or pretended to
sleep, for we had told him to keep his ears
open in tho butlcrs pantry by tho kitchen.
Tho rcst of us huddlcd round the fire,
speaking in whispers, smoking like chin
ncys listening to every sound, to every
moan of tho wintry breeze.
They'll try tho library window for a
certainty" whispered Mr.. Bollweathcr
to mo rs the clock struck the quarter mast.
but said: Hardly. Tho pantry win
dow is tho marc likely" And with that
wo fell to listening again, and all was
silence.
AS waited and watched became anx-
ious and still moro anxious about those
lower windows and descended tho stairs
twice to make sure that no one was trying
tho pantry, .ct each time WAS treasured
by tho appearance of tho valet, who came
up from below as / was about to 90 down.
and remarked in very bad English, sVcr'
right" He was faithful fellow, that
valet, and he watched we'll
When the hour of > O'Clock came wc
were nearly all aslccp-that is to say, tho
rest of them were notllng in their chairs.
and Mr. Bcllwcathcr was absolutely snor.
ing. aiono was possessed of my full
wakeful powers, and rs tho wind lulled
| for moment, and tho deep hell of tho bio
clock struck the quarter past, alone heard
faint scratching noise coming from be-
low.
Hist, what's that?"
Tho drcamers wcro awake in second.
| My comrades pulled out their reyolvcrs
and cooked them. Mr.. Bcllwcathcr went
on tiptoo to the head of tho stairs and
listened. Tho scratching sound became
louder and louder. We heard tho splinter
ing of wood. My heart beat wildly. oh.
| that old fool Bcnl
What's the plan?" asked one of my
comrades in awhispcr when we were quito
sure that door WAS being forced, and
said Let them enter and seize them rs
they como to the top of the stairs. l hopo
that valet will keep quiet"
He'll be all right" said Mr Bell
weather under his breath, adding as if
thought came to him, "I'll slip out OH
to the balcony window and sec what
| they're up to-
He had left us before I could stop him.
and in another moment heard the bal
cony window open. Tho scratching still
went on, though, and just as II real crash
came and tho window must have been
| forced open tho loud voice of the French
valet WAS heard crying: "Robbaircsl
T'lcvcs'' while the shril sound of n po-
liccnians whistle fell on the night air.
At that moment Mr.. l}cllwcathcr re-
turned from tho balcony 'Thcy'ro
alarmed, no cried, "and arc running for
tho small garden gate. After them, for
your livcsl"
Determined not to lose Ben ut any risk,
L rushed out, my comrades following me,
and as wo emerged wo wcro met by two
| policemen, who had been watching near
tho house. Mr.. Bcllwcnther alone seemed
able to discern tho whereabouts of tho rob-
bcrs, and he cried loudly: Down there
by tho garden gate! After theml Go
alongl"
The pursuit became general in an in
slant. Tho two policemen mally blow
thoir whistles; my two comrades, swift
runners, went thor best pace. l found
myself last of all ut the end Of minute,
and my companion was Mr.. Bcllwcather.
| We wcro neither of us good runners, and
he cried: "Stop Wo'ro leaving tho front
of tho house unguardcd.
His words were very true and worthy of
| thoughtful man. l stopped instantly,
gasping for breath and crying: Como
back, como back! There may be some of
them out in tho gardens, " with which idea
turned round to run tho other way when
an extraordinary thing happened Some.
how or other Mr. Bcllweathcrs legs got
| mixed up with mine and fell heavily to
the earth. AT that moment gag was
showed into my mouth and pistol was Mt
my head. 1t was held there by Mr. Bell
| weather.
Move muscle" he Kissed, "and
blow your brains Quit" l endeavorcd to
( rise, but he struck mo heavily on tho head
with the pistol, and half unconscious 1
felt myself being bound. Then heard tho
sound of wheels and knew that the robbers
were being driven rapidly away, and so I
lost consciousness.
They told mo all about it next dav. Mr..
Bollwcnthcr had never returned from Ger
many mt all. Tho telegram calling tho
man William to Dover was false one.
| The thieves had entered the house in tho
afternoon and packed tho valuabcs, get
| ting them into the cart during the false
| chase OF u supposed thief. Mr.. Bcllwcashcr
was sham; his valet was Ben And I
| was done! Yes, sir, done by burglar for
tho first and last time in my fc.-Tit-
! Bits.
Tie Art of Mosaic.
Tho slab upon which the mosaic is made
is generally of traycrtinc. or tiburtinc,
cfn I