St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-07-29
. BURGLARS TWO !

Ash autumn, toward the end of the
IL Long. Hargreaves and I went
down to Lyncaster-on-Sea to do some
reading.
Inc season was over. and we found
ourselves almost the only visitors in the
place-quite the only ones. in fact. at
the Park hotel. Consequently we had a
cho,ce OF rooms. and it was purely acci-
dental that we chose the corner sitting
room on the second floor 'front.'" over
looking the grounds of the hotel and
Also the Peoples park
The western wall of the hotel gardens
formed the eastern boundary OF the
park. and our room was at right angles
to the wall. Immediately beneath it, on
the park side, was a row of garden
seats.
One night Hargreaves and I were
luxuriating in lounge after dinner.
The room was in darkness and we were
quiet for once-enjoying a smoke and
half DOING.
Presently was reused by the sound
Of voices talking outside. The window
was open and drew aside the curtain
and looked out
Two men occupied the seat just below
me. on the park side of the wall-decent
looking fellows, as far as could tell
in the dusk. / looked carelessly at
them for a moment, and was about to
return to my pipe when word or two
caught my ear. / leaned forward and
listened eagerly.
Then it's all settled. We sneak up
the drive, steal ladder and you climb
in ut the landing window. We shan't
be disturbed; old Seaton sleeps at the
back of the house, so do the servants"
'Go on.''
"Her room is in the front-the first
on the left from the landing window.
spotted it the other night when 1 was
strolling up and down"
"Oh! never mind that. Hurry up"
"Well, you know what to do next.
Seize the little darling. gag her, lower
her down to me-she's a mere feather
weight follow, and I'll manage the
rest"
'Sh-sh! Not 50 loud"
The speaker glanced apprehensively
over his shoulder at the hotel.
"You're sure this place is empty?" he
went on. .'There'll be a pretty how dye
do If we've been overheard"
-Of course it's empty. How funky
you ace!"
'.Wen, don't care about the business.
sTis internally risky, and"
"Ohi come, you can't back out of it
now. You understand? Meet me at
1880 O'Clock at the crossroads half a
mile from Seaton tall. Then tramp,
. few minutes wild excitement, then
Dora and Bliss"
Tom. It's far cry from to-night's af-
fair TO bliss and Dora."
'.Oh, shut up! I'm off"
The two men moved away, and IL
sank back in my chair and gasped.
What could it mean? Did these cold
blooded ruffians really contemplate
breaking into a mans house and steal
ing his daughter under his very nose?
1t was incredible. impossible: it WAS
reused Hargreaves with a vigorous
shake. "Wake up!" / shouted. wake
mp! Thieves! Burglars! Kidnapers!
Miss seaton of Seaton Hall!"
.'What the deuce are you talking
about?" cried Hargreaves, starting up.
SAre you mad?"
pulled myself together with an eff
fort. and rapidly ran over what l had
heard.
Believe it or not, as you like"
oaSd. sits true enough. / shall be at
Seaton han at midnight to stop this
desperate deed. and if lose my life
in the interest of my fellow creatures
my blood be on your head"
This rhetorical display impressed
Hargr~aves. Seeing which, followed
It up with hint of ignoring the Lyn-
caster police. and capturing the bur-
glars on our own bat.
Hargreaves was fetched.
A couple of hours later two villains.
armed with blackthorn cudgels. strobe
along the road from Lancaster to
Seaton--myself and Hargreaves on the
warpath.
We were horribly nervous-at least.
was. A four-mile walk in mud and
thick mist had cooled my enthusiasm.
and nervous .tremors trickled down my
spine as l thought OF attacking those
ruf5ians alone and unaided.
Visions floated before me in fright
full procession. saw myself and Har-
Rreaves = pair Of mangled corpses
weltering in our gore. Horrible! Wip-
ing the cold perspiration from my fore
head stole a glance at Hargreaves
He was stalking along in silent gloom,
his hands thrust into his pockets. his
can tugged down over his eyes.
.Hargreaves." 1 began. He started
n though he had been shot. This was
encouraging.
.H-Hargreaves.' said, trying to get
the nervous quiver out of my voice
s.H-Hargreaves, DIDO you think they
have accomplices? Perhaps there is
e-gang of them."
.Rubbish." from Hargreaves, saw
arely. .BosR. How goes the enemy"
sHslf-past ten," I suffered. and re-
siened myself to fate.
We reached the crossroads by II
o'clock. after which ten minutes sharp
walking brought rs to Seaton hall.
The house was approached by drive
about . quarter of mile in length.
Th;. We followed, sneaking along. and
e.ally into the thick shrubbery just
vhere the drive swept round in front
6f the hall.