Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-28

stairs, four steps at a time. 1t was
Clare's voice he had heard utter the
cry; he waited not one second to think.
but followed i~nstinctively the sound,
which still seemed to ring out ON the
air. The frightened guests, with Won
der and awe, crowded into the ante
chamber, the men following the mas
ter.
Lionel never paused till he had
had gained the dressing-room, and then
for one second he almost staggered
back at the picture upon which his
eyes fell.
BaptiSte lay stretched upon the floor,
a dark stream of blood dyeing the car
pet and staining Clare's velvet robes
as she knelt beside him, striving to
staunch a deep wound in his breast.
The window was wide open, the can
dies fiared wildly in the draught, the
curtains had been Wrenched aside, and
the delicate lace about the toilet-table
had been torn, and hung loose from
it's f~astenings. All this Lionel took in
at a glance. With quick words he
sprung to Clare's side.
"Clare, you are safe? You are not
hurt?'
mo" she answered., looking up with
white face; she has been shot! Send
for a surgeon quickly. Oh, Lionel! it
has been my fault"
flush, child!" he said, quickly
don't think of that now"
He turned to Lord Tregaron and the
others, who, with Mortified looks, stood
on the threshold, each eXclaiming,
wondering:
"What is it? Who is hurt-not Lady
Stanhope?'
While the servants, alarmed by the
unusual disturbance, came hurrying
up in wild confusion. But Lionel
Stanhope's calm, clear voice stilled the
tumult.
"There has been robbery, and, l
fear, murder, [ know nothing more yet.
Saunders''-to the butler-"ride off at
once to Doctor Marchmonth, and
bring him back with you, remember.
John, give the alarm to the keepers,
and have the grounds searched"
Morton Davenant stepped forward
eagerly.
81 will go down to the poiice-sta-
tion," he said.
Guest and servants sped away
quickly upon their several errands; one
of the upper m~en-servants who under
stood something of surgery, knelt
down by poor Baptiste, and as well as
he could, to some extent, stopped the
flow Of blood, while Glare stood with
locked hands and compressed lips
looking down on him.
"All of you,' said Lionel to the ser
wants, ego downstairs, except Hartford
and Grey and Mrs. Lyle; l will sum-
mon you if you are wanted"
None dared disObey, although they.
with the morbid curiosity which is not
peculiar to the lower classes, one and
all longed to linger on the spot and
gather up every little Of news. They
filed away, however. discussing the
event in low tones; and, as oon as
the room was clear, save for those Sil
Lionel had specified, and the then re
:. naming guests, he turned n bent
over the PROSTATE form of his faith
full servant.
Il think he lives" he said. "Ah
what is this?'
A revolver, silver-mounted, and OF
somewhat peculiar make, was lyins
Just near the windOw-probably
dropped in the fight of the robber
=, Sir Lionel paused a moment, his brow
, stern and grave, his lips set with al
: most repellent severity; then he spoke
, to Glare, whose attitude had never
=, changed, and who looked up with {
feeting glance when he addressed he,
o gently.
"Do you know anything of this
Clare?"
n Nothing" she said, in low, quie
tones.
81 found the room as you see
4 now. Eugene might have put til
jewels away"
Eugene was summoned, but Pre-
tested with tears that h had not Ell
e tered the room since she had dresse
! madame for dinner, and, as she ev
IDENTIFY spoke truth, she was dismisse
kindly.
"Here comes Doctor Marchmont,
said Blair Leighton, and the physical
70 entered.
Lady Stanhope felt intensely r
, lieved when the doctor pronounce
that, though the man was dangerous
- wounded, he thought he would recOve
But" he added, "the head has su
= tanned such injury that L doubt if
a will be able to afford you any help
- at any rate, for months-in tracing tt
~ thief"
~ And so quietness settled on Il
IN household. An inspector was with s
w. Lionel. The house and park had be-
searched unsuccessfully, but the poll
were on the alert, and already the q
or fair was known at Scotland Yard.
"a But the inspector told Stanhope
- what indeed he knew-that in su
- cases there was little hope of recov
ing the lost jewels, as they were i
mediately taken from the settin:
~ which are melted down, and the ston
- passed from hand to hand, even son
- times being broken up, to avoid p
~ sible identification. So nothing mC
could be done hat night, and
iei Lionel returned to Baptiste's chamb
expressing his intention of sharing I
lel night watch of the doctor n HI
A. ford.
Get the house as quiet as you c.
Clare" he said to his wife, pausing
he met her in the gallery-"l V