The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-08-03

ATc you Hldu
pulled myself together with an eff
fort, and rapidly ran over what had
heard.
Believe it or not, as you like" I
said, Its true enough. shall be at
Seaton hall at midnight to stop this
desperate deed, and if 1 lose my life
in the interest of my fellow creatures
my blood be on your head"
This rhetorical display impressed
Hargreaves. Seeing which, I followed
it up with hint of ignoring the Lyn-
caster police, and capturing the bur-
glars off our own bat.
Hargreaves was fetched.
A couple of hours later two villains,
armed with blackthorn cudgels, strobe
along the road from Lyncaster to
Seaton--myself and Hargreaves on the
warpath.
We were horribly nervous-at least,
l was. A four-mile walk in mud and a
thick mist had cooled my enthusiasm,
and nervous tremors trickled down my
spine as I thought of attacking those
ruffians alone and unaided.
Visions floated before me in fright
full procession. / saw myself and Har-
greaves pair of mangled corpses
weltering in our gore. Horrible! Wip-
ing the cold perspiration from my fore
head l stole glance at Hargreaves.
He was stalking along in silent gloom,
his hands thrust into his pockets, his
cap tugged down over his eyes.
"Hargreaves," I began. He started
as though he had been shot. This was
Encouraging.
"H-Hargreaves," said, trying to get
the nervous quiver out of my voice
H-Hargreaves, DIDO you think they
have accomplices? Perhaps there is a
g-gang of them.'
''Rubbish!" from Hargreaves, saw.
agely. ''Bosh! How goes the enemy?'
''Half-past ten suffered, and re-
signed myself to fate.
We reached the crossroads by II
o'clock, after which ten minutes SHARP
walking brought us to Seaton hall.
The house was approached by drive
about quarter of mile in length
This we followed. sneaking along, ant
finally into the thick shrubbery JUS
where the drive swept round in from
of the hall.
We seemed to have been there fol
hours, during which my only comfor
, lay in clutching the blackthorn cudge
and pocket pistol, to which Har
greaves carried pair, when suddenly
Hargreaves gripped my arm.
1 listened. Footsteps were coming
stealthily toward us. Nearer and near
er they drew-nearer and nearer.
: crouched down behind the shrubs an,
: peered out.
Ah-ha! There they were-the ruf
fans! Thank goodness, only two o
5 them. They sneaked along on the mar
e row strip of grass bordering the grave
S drive, passed and disappeared into tn
a darkness.
n A few minutes elapsed. Then Ian
terms red bull's-eye cleaned out clos
e to the ground. Two figures reared
:. ladder against the house wall.
One of the men mounted and disaI
d peared. / could hear Hargreaves' breat
coming in quick gasps. My teeth chat
d tered.
v Now the fellow was at the windo'
n again. He clutched something in hi
arms. Miss Dora Seaton? No nc
Y Miss Dora Seaton-a bundle. A kicl
t ing struggling bundle!
II Silently, swiftly he descended. TIL
It ladder was removed, the red light {
o the lantern extinguished. We felt til
o two coming toward us in the darknes
d My heart beat up into my throat, m
knees shook, but l clutched the blacl
p thorn cudgel.
b "Now!" cried Hargreayes.
t We sprang out. Each hDrled himse
le on his man, seizing him by the throa
and hung on.
The shock Of the attack was irresis
st ible. With scarcely sound, scarce
l even scuffie, we forced the fellow
is down. Tightening my grip
'If they struggle" / cried to &
imaginary comrade in the darknes
t. ''if they struggle, fire!"
er 1 gagged my man, bound his unr
SlSlluS uduuSs luIANu OA SAS AsAhS ~ ~
he and staggered back in utter amaz
ment.
..Graham." cried. "Graham!"
ly "Dagmore!" CALCULATED Hargreavt
''Tom nagmore! by the powers!'
ne Hargreaves and I stared at one a
ye other. The burglars lay and glar
at MS, gagged and helpless. The m,
~ terious bundle struggled and plung
about our feet. Over all loomed t
IS. shadow of the old hall, wrapped in
lent darkness.
it Then Hargreaves began to laugh.
at rolled about the drive in speechless {
a ony, stuffing his handkerchief into
Up. mouth and gurgling. subsidized on t
- ground in silent convulsions.
No wonder. Graham and Dagmo
it, undergraduates of All Souls, Oxbrid,
af- breaking into the house Of a highly
spectacle country squire to steal
yesi to steal what?