Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-11-13


man came mp. And Bill di0 two hands.
In fact. and Some accelstua I'd feet. The
fourth man, presumably I'm. had an
parcntly turned aside ana made cT in
dinervnt direction, At my rate, he
lid not join the trio.
Mr.. Watkins memory of ,Ae incidents
IT The next two nsnutes is cNtrCmelv
vague. lie has q dim recollection of
having his tkumh in Che rcrncr of the
nouih OF the first man. and feeling
anxious about its safety. and for some
seconds at least he held th.. head OF the
gentleman answering To The nnme of
Bill 20 the ground ~ the hnir. lie was
also kicked in great number nf diff
lcrcrt places. apparently Ia a vast null
iitu.ie OF people. Then tn, gentleman
who was not Bill got his knee below
Mr., Watkins d!aphram ANA tried 20
ourl him up upon Il.
When his sensations became less en-.
tangled. he Was sitting upon the turf
end eight or ten men--thc night was
dark and he was rather too confused IN
eount-'standing round him. apparr
entity waiting for him 10 recover. He
mournfuily assumed that he was cap.
tured. and would probably have n,ado
some philosophical reflections ON the
heklcncss OF fortune, had not his inter,
nnl sensations disinolincd him for
speech.
lie noticed very quiclly that his
wrists were not hundculfcd. and then n
flask OF brandy was Put in his hands.
Tbs touched him q littlc--it was such
unexpected kindness.
Hes a-comin' round" said voice.
which he fanc'cd he recognized as be-
longing TO the lIammcrpond second
scoiman.
We've got 'cm. sin. both Of en- said
the Hamrnerpond butler, the man who
had handed him the flask. "1hnnl>s
to YOU"
NJ emo answered this remprk, yet he
failed a. see how IL applied to him.
Hes fair dn1cd," said strange
voice, THE Villains hnlf.murdcrcd nim.v
Mr., Teddy Watkins decided 10 remain
fair dazod untll lac had kciter arusp
of the situation. lie perceived Tint
two OF the black figures round nim
stood side by side with q detected mir.
End there WAS something in tho cnr-
tiage Of their shoulders that suggested
10 his experienced eye hands that were
bound together. Two In fash lie
rose TO his position. re cmpticd the
iitle flask and ggcrcd-c.sequ,ou
hands insisting h;m-to his fect, There
was q sympathetic muImur.
"Shulgc hands, SIR. shake hands" said
one az the dCuers near him. Permit
me TO Introduce myself. am very
greatiy indebted 10 you. I, was the
Jewels OF my wife, Lady Avelug. VIII 'ca
ptirncted these scoundrels TO the
houser
Very glad TO male your lordship's
pcqunintance,n said Teddy Watkins.
Il presume YOU saw the rnscals maxi
ing for the shrubbery, and dropped
down ON thcm?"
THAT'S exactly how IL happened"
said Mr.. Watkins.
rNou should have waited till they rot
ia ut the window" said Lord Avciing;
they would get II hotter II they had
actually committed the burglary. Aud
il was lucky for you two Of the police
men were out by thc gates and followed
mp the three OF YOU. doubt " you could
have secured the two of them-t though
IL was confoundedly pluclsy OF you, all
the same"
Eyes, i ought 10 have thought OF all
that" said Mr.. Watkins; "but one can't
think of everything"
Certainly not,n said Lord Aveling.
81 am afraid they have Ianuled YOU lit
tie" he added. The party was now
moving toward the house, "lou walk
rather lame. May | Offer you my
arm?"
And instead OF entering Hammer
pond house by the drcsslng-room win
dpw. Mr. Watkins entered it--sli2hily
intoxicated ard inclined now 10 cheer
live peer. and 10y the front door.
This" thought Mr.. Watkins. lis
burgling In stylc!" The "scoundrels,"
seen 10y the gnslight, proved to be mere
local amateurs unknown TO Mr.. Wat
l;ns, and they were taken down into
the pantry and there watched over by
the three policemen, two game keepers
with loaded guns. the butler aud
hostler, until the dawn allowed of their
removal to Iiazelhurst police station.
AR. Watkins was made much of in
the drawing-room. They devoted n
sofa 10 him, and would not hear OF a
return 90 the village that night. Lady
Avcling was sure that he was brilliant
ly original. ard said her idea Of Turner
was just such another rough. half
inebriated. deep-eycd, brave and clever
mnn. Some one brought UP remark
able little folding-ladder that had been
picked up IN the shrubbery. and
showed him how IL was put together
They also described how wires had
been found in the shrubbery. evidently
placed there 10 trip up unwary pur-
sUers. IL was lucky he had escaped
these snares. And they showed him
The jewels.
Mr. Watkins had the sense not to
talk too much, ard In any conversa-
tional difficulty fell back on his inv
tcrnal pains. At last he was seized
with stiffness in the back and yawning,
Everyone suddenly awolSe to the fact
that IL was a shame to keep him toilx-
Ing after his affray, so ne retired early
to his room--the little REQ room next
to Lord AveliRg's suite,
The dawn found deserted easel,