Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-01-12
TnENATEOF THE HINDU
By Captain RALPH DAVIS.
(Copyrigh., 1904 by the Author.l
CHAPTER 1
THE CAsTLE Ar DUDLRY,

CHAPTER I
THE CASTLE AT DUDLEY.
The village bells at Dudley have Just
struck the midnight hour.
It is an English village ON the Severn
river, about 80 miles southwest OF Biz
mingham, founded. and one night say
owned. by Lord Dudley. II is q quiet
place, with little business and never any
hustle. Many Of the wealthy manufac-
furers Of Birmingham have their homes
here, and in summer time there are
many strangers, although il is far from
the sea.
For an hour OF more skiff has been
lying at anchor in the bend Of the river
just above where the northern wall In
closing Lord Dudley's grounds reaches
the bank. There are three walls shut
ting in the ten acres Of ground, whilc
the river itself answers for the fourth.
The castle stands in the center OF the
plat. and the space not covered BY it
and the conservatory, stables, etc., In
given up to lawns. walks, flower beds,
fountains and the like. A grand old
place this, though tho 10 acres should
have been 90 or 80.
1t is o starlight June night, with
something Of mist rising from the wa
ter. Had any boatman been passing mp
or down he might have rowed within
30 feet Of the rough and unpainted skin
without noticing it. He might have
passed within feet Of il without see
ing its occupant, who was lying on the
broad Of his back and watching the
faint stars above him in an absent man.
ner. He seemed ON the point Of going
to sleep when the three bells in different
portions of the rambling village began
to slowly and solemply strike the hour
which marks the death Of the old and
the birth Of new day. Then he sat up
and looked about and whispered to him
self:
That's what I've been waiting for,
and here go! Wish I'd brought along
partner. though that would have
meant divide cf the swa.. =
He lifted the stone by wl..ch the boat
had been archo.cd ard 1T the craft
drift down ras. tho wall. Then by
careful use II the pad !lc h worked it
inshore mt. tho bo! rested Oh the
bank. He VAS now within the grounds,
but quite u distance from tho house
Stepping ashore, he pulled tic skiif half
its length cut cf the water, and for u
minute or two stocd peering into the
darkness.
Losing your nerve. ehi" he nuttered,
ms q shiver passed over him. TITS your
first big joh, and you are n bit 'imid.
Burglary is bit different from poach.
ing, but You'll get used 1t, Ben John
son! Take drink TO brace your nerves"
He pulled bottle from his pocket,
drained it Of its contents and tossed it
away. A full pint OF liquor had gone
down his throat since 10 O'Clock, and
but for the adventure he had on hand
he would have been sleeping the stupid
sleep Of intoxication. The effect Of the
| last drink was TO make him desperately
reckless-the condition he hoped for.
Keeping clear OF the grayeled paths,
that the sound Of his footsteps might
not betray him. he slowly and cautiously
advanced to the house. Not light was
| TO be seen, not q sound came TO alarm
him.
'Secoud story-above the portico-
three windows" be whispered 10 him.
self lone window in her ladyship's
bedroom, two in her sitting room. She
has her own safe, and n s in that sitting
room. Key to be found lying about
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. again
and nobody the wiser. No need Of any
violence unless the old gal has the i'm
pudence to wake up and discover me.
No, won't hurt anybody unless I'm
cornercd. Come, now! Up you go@
He advapced up the steps leading to
q private entrance and kicked of his
shoes and placed his hat and jacket be-
side them. Then lifting himself up to
the railing he graspcd column sup
porting the portico and noiselessly as
cended TO its roof The sills Of two win
dows were only two feet above him.
Not the slightest ray Of light had been
reflected from either. but from his new
position he made q discovery which was
| impossible from the ground.
The curtains at the window OF her
ladyship's bedroom were down, but u
| glimmer Of light escaped from the side
| next to him. She was woman 90
years Of age, in failing health, and per-
haps she was i'll and u nurse was sitting
mp with her. 1t might be only night
lamp, however. The man remained
| crouched on the roof for ten minutes
| without motion He heard no move
| ment-no yoices-and finally decided
that it was safe to 60 ahead. he ex-
pected TO find the windows locked, and
he lost no tine in trying them. Pulling
himself carefully up to the north win
dow OF the sitting room, he stood up,
drew long, thin piece Of steel from
his breast aud in 80 seconds had turned
the catch by inserting the implement
between the sashes. There was dull
| click, and he crouched down and waited
| FIVE or six minutes to see If any one
had been aroused.
$50 far so good" no whispered when
satisfied that TO alarm had been created.
"I'd feel better if I had pal on the
watch below, but I've gone too far to
back out now. Only that window be-
tween me and G5, 600 of swag"
So carefully did he raise the sash that
had any one been sitting in the room
and wide awake they would not have
heard o scnnd. His entrance into the
room was just as cautiously made. II
was not until he had closed the sash be-
hind him, rearranged the curtains to
hide the light and then listened In vain
for the heavy breathing Of person in
sleep that he took the dark lantern from
the bag in which he carried it and
threw its light around the room. 1t was
an apartment perhaps 80 feet long BY
90 wide, with door leading into hall
ar the back end, and midway on the
north side door which the burglar at
once decided communicated with her
ladyship's bedroom. The man had no
eyes for the elegant surroundings, but
flashed his lantern here and there until
the light fell upon the door Of an iron
safe built into the south wall. He had
heard of that safe and its contentA
That was the magnet which had drawn
him to the castle that June night
which rad made him turn burglar
which was to change the current OF his
lifa