The Springfield herald., 1898-12-09
CHAPTER |.

ullssloH VI d ureaulul crime.
Sledgemere is an out-of- the way
spot in Sussex, having to this day no
railway station within nine miles, and
boasting only two gentlemen's resi-
dences and vicarage
For nearly thirty years the parson
had preached, and his parishioners
had listened. There had been sQuab-
bles between the Vicar and the Squire
about chancel rights. There had been
good seasons and bad; nine-day scan-
dals had been cherished and nursed;
/ but never before had the sober. slow
going people OF the village been SO ut
'erly startled from their dreamy. ev-
| ery-day existence as they were on that
memorable morning of the l4th Of
| July. IS.
| About half mile from the Squire's
house and on the opposite side of the
village there was a pretty old man
sion called Froyles. which had been
| occupied for considerable time by an
elderly bachelor named Hughes. Very
little was known OF him, although
when he first came into the neighbor-
hood he brought with him introduc-
tions to the Squire, from whom he
rented the house Considering that he
lived almost entirely alone he kept mp
somewhat large establishment.
Occasionally an elderly maiden-lady
named Miss Pyecroft. who was sup
posed to be his niece. came and paid
him three or four months visit; but
the old man was of such retiring habits
hat ha
length Of time any Interference in
his ways Of life. So Miss Pyecroft's
visits invariably terminated in
stormy eruption on his part, caused by
some fancied liberty he imagined her
to have taken in the ordering of the
household, or by some grumbling on
the part Of the servants, who by no
means relished her trespassing upon
their preserves.
Mr.. Hughes spent his time chiefly
among his books and coins, OF both OF
which he prided himself upon having
large and valuable collection.
His household consisted chiefly OF
butler, q footman, a cook and two
maid-servants, besides two out-of-door
men, the coachman and gardener. In
such a dull spot 1t was no easy task to
get indoor men-servants to remain.
The master of the house very
seldom entertained, and even deplored
having to preside at the two or three
annual dinner-parties, at which the
Squire, the Vicar and the local doctor,
accompanied by their respective wives.
were his chief and generally his only
guests. These dinners were indeed but
slow affairs, for the only post-prandial
diversion ever offered was an inspec-
tion of Mr.. Hughes coins, which were
displayed in their glass cases all
around the drawing-room. After the
departure Of the guests, these treas
ures were re-deposited In the great
oaken cabinets in the library, to lie by
until the next festive occasion. Among
them were many valuable antique gold
and silver pieces. and it was common
remark Of the Squire's, when he dined
at Froyles, that he would not like to
keep so much bullion in his house, for
fear OF waking up some fine morning
and finding his throat cut! Habit,
however, had become a second nature,
and the possession Of these coins
caused Mr.. Hughes no anxiety.
They were not things people could
steal. he always declared, as the real
value consisted in their antiquity, and
it would be hard matter to dispose of
them.
But you might melt them down."
the Squire suggested.
Melt your grandmother down."
Mr.. Hughes had replied irritably. as
IL the very motion of melting down
such treasures for the sake of paltry
dross were offensive to him.
It is necessary, In order to follow
the revelations contained In these
pases. to be particular as to the de-
scription Of the inmates Of Mr.. Hugh
es' establishment at the time the mar
rative commences.
The cook, Mrs. Young, was an elder
ly woman, who had been five years in
her present situation. The two maids,
sarah and Anne Dodson, were
sisters, both young women. and ma
lives of the village of sledgemere.
The footman, Edward Bartlett, was a
vouth of nineteen, and had lately been
engaged with an excellent two years
character from his former master The
butler. William Luke, was a man of
over forty years OF age, who had en-
tered Mr.. Hughes service about the
same time as Bartlett.
In consequence OF the difficulty he
had experienced in obtaining servants,
Mr.. Hughes had taken Luke into his
service without character. The man
had been discharged by his late en-
ployer for impertinence and suspected
differing OF wine: but Mr.. Hughes
liked his looks, and, after cautioniny
him as to his future behavior, con-
sented to engage him.
OF the coachman and the gardener
it is scarcely necessary to say any
thing, because at the time of the
dreadful event about to be described
they were proved to be In their houses
with their respective wives and chill
dren.
On the 18th of July. 1S-, Mr.. Hughes
gave one Of his solemn dinner parties.
As usual, the coins were displayed
after dinner, and the old gentleman
held forth with more than his ordinary