Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-02
Copyright, 1866, by thB Author.
CHAPTR I.
THE CASTLE Al DUDLEY.

mlngham, founded, and one nlgE{ say
owned, by Lord Dudley. 1t is q quiet
place, with little busiucss and never any
hustle. Many Of theSealthy manufac-
turers of Birmingham have their homes
here, and in summer time there are
many strangers, although it is far from
the sea.
For an hour or mole skif has been
lying at anchor in tn, bend of tho river
just above where the sortbern wall in
closing Lord Dudley's gr 1nds reaches
the bank. There are ltnfs; walls shut
ting in the ten. acres-pf ground, while
the river itself answers for the fourth.
The castle stands III the center Of the
plat, and the space not covered by it
and the conservatory stables, etc., is
given mp to lawns, walks, flower beds,
fountains and the lille. A grand old
place this, though the710 acres should
have been 90 or 80. y -
It is a starlight June night, with
something Of mist rising from the wa
ter. Had any boatman beeu passing up
or down he might hare sowed within
90 feet Of the rough sard unpainted skiff
without noticing 1t. He might have
passed within S feet Of 1t without see-
ing its occupant, who was lying on the
broad of his back aid watching the
faint stars above him in an absent man.
ner. He seemed on s-oint Of going
to sleep when the three bells in different
portions of the ram bling village began
to slowly and solemnly 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 I gol Wish I'd drought along
a partner, though that would have
meant divide of the swag.
he lifted the stone by which the boat
had been anchored and let the craft
drift down past the wa y. Then BY q
careful nse of the paddld he worked it
inshore until the bow ested on the
bank: He was now withH the grounds
but quite a distance from She house.
Stepping ashore, he pu] ledthe skiff half
its length ont Of the Water, and for a
minute or two stood Ieerhg into the
darkness.
Losing your nerve. eh!' he muttered,
as a shiver passed over him. '1t's your
first big job, and you DE bit timid
Burglary is bit diffeent from poach-
ing, but you'll get usedto it. Ben john
son! Take drink to brte your nerves!"
He pulled bottle # BIN his pocket,
drained it of its contel and tossed it
away. A full pint of liquor had gone
down his throat since 10 o'clock, and
but for the adventure + had on hand
he would have been slee ing the stupid
sleep of intoxication. hvs.effect Of the
last drink was to make I'm desperately
reckless-the condition he, hoped for.
Keeping clear of the gSaveled 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 sound, came to alarm
him.
Second story-above the portico--
three windows" he whispered to him
self. lone window in ESri ladyshlp'!
bedroom, two in her sitting room. She
has her own safe, and j rs n that sitting
room. Key to be found lHing abou
somewhere-jewels-mong-t-ont agail
and nobody the wiser. Nc nfed OF an!
violence unless the old gal hhs the i'm
pudence to wake up and dif fcover me
No. I won't hurt anybody. unless In
cornered. Come, now! Up , pu go!
He advanced up the steps leading t.
q private entrance and kicked off hi
shoes and placed his hat and jacket be
side them. Then lifting himself up t
the railing he grssped column sup
porting the portico and nois selessly as
cended to its roof The sills Of two win
dows were only two feet above him
Not the slightest ray Of hgbtl had beel
reflected from either, but froh his ne1
position he made discovery which wa
impossible from the ground. I
The curtains at the window Of he
ladyship's bedroom were down, but
glimmer of light escaped fralb the sid
next to him. She was a woman
years of age. in failing health4 and pc,
haps she was i'll and nurse " rs sittin
up with her. 1t might be only a nigh
lamp, however. The man RENAME
crouched on the roof f& ten minute
without motion. He heard no move
ment-no voices-and finally decide
that it was safe to 60 ahead. he el
pected to find the windows looked, an
he lost no time in tryinS them Pullin
himself carefully up to the north wiz
dow of the sitting room he stood VI
drew long, thin piece of steel fro1
his breast and in 80 seconds had turne
the catch by inserting the implemer
between the sashes. There was du
click, and he crouched down and waite
five or six minutes to see II any on
had been aroused.
$50 far so goodr' he whispered whe
satisfied that no alarm had been created
"I'd feel better if had pal on tt
watch below, but I've gone too far
back out now. Only that window b.
tween me and e5, 900 of swag!"
So carefully did he raise the sash ths
had any one been sitting in the ROOF
and wide awake they would not hay
heard a sound. His enhance into tt
room was just as cautiously made.
was not until he had closed the sash b
hind him, rearranged the curtains
hide the light and then listened in va,
for the heavy breathing of a person
sleep that he took the dark e lantern fro' a'
:, xpbioh he carried it al