The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-31

! OF precious things, the parsons wife
grew faint; the sight was too much fol-
her. Mrs. Edwards came to her as
ISSUANCE, ana the party went into the
Keepers house to rest until the visitor
felt better.
A few days later, the parson re-
turned to thank the Edwardses for
their kindness; and in conversation, he
mentioned a nephew with two or three
hundred pounds a year, who he ven
tured to suggest, would make a good
match for pretty Miss Edwards. The
old keeper listened gladly to the idea,
and before the country parson left, a
day was set when he should bring his
nephew to be presented to Mr.. and
Mrs. Edwards as a possible sutton.
At the appointed time the parson,
who was Col. Blood, appeared with
four companions One was left with
resented the bashful sutton; the others
were friends.
Old Edwards met the party; his wife
and daughter he said, were upstairs
would not the reverend gentleman and
his friends wait in the house? No, said
w parson; his friends had never seen
the crown jewels, could not Mr.. Ed
wards show them while they waited
for the ladies'? He could, certainly; so
room, the sutton declining to go with
them, but hanging bashfully about the
door where he might first see his pos
sible bride-and likewise act as guard.
When they reached the jewel room,
Edwards turned around to lock the
door; and as he did so, one of the gang
threw a cloak over his head, another
gagged him. while the third threaten
ed him with death if he uttered a
sound. The old man tried to cry out,
so they struck him on the head with
a hammer, knocking him senseless to
the ground.
Then. they turned to the jewels.
Blood, the parson took the crown,
another put the orb in his pocket, the
third was trying to cut the scepter in
two, when they heard signal of dam
ger from the lookout. Old Edwards
son, long expected home had
indeed appeared! Not knowing the
lookout, he said to him:
Are you waiting to see my father?
l will tell him you are here?" and en-
tered the keepers house.
The lookout gave the signal and ran
but followed by Blood and his confed-
crates, who in their haste did not stop
to lock the door and carry off the key.
Miss Edwards looking from the win
dow saw her sutton run past the house,
anu III AlCA iQA H. uOWh stan >
to learn the reason for his hasty de-
parture.
AS she neared the door of the jewel
house she heard her fathers voice call
ing for help The old man had come
to his senses, got the gag out of his
mouth, and. though in terror of in
slant death. would not lie quiet and
let his precious charge be stolen.
Miss Edwards rushed into the jewell
room. saw the vacant places where the
regalia had stood, saw her father bound
on the floor and running downstairs
again, cried Justify: The crown, the
crown is stolen!"
The guard was turned out but the
thieves had gained the streets and
separated. The passers-by heard the
shouts. and saw the fleeing men, and
also raised the alarm.
Blood was overtaken almost as he
reached the horses. and was seized by
the captain of the guard. In the strug-
gle the crown rolled into the gutter,
and some of it's jewels were knocked
out and lost. The thief with the orb
was captured with little trouble, for
he was not a fighting man like Col
Blood and the others of the gang We're
soon identified and compelled to yield.
They were all taken to the Tower,
whence the world expected they would
soon depart for Tyburn. the place of
hanging. But they did not go that
way.
When they We're examined Blood re-
fused to say word except to the King.
Charles laughed and had him brought
to the palace. There Blood talked
freely to him.
He said that he was the principal in
the recent attempt on the life of the
Duke of Ormonde Then he went fur
Their: he said that he was one of a
band of desperate men who had sworn
to kill the King, and that he himself
had gone to the river prepared to shoot
him while he was swimming; but he
could not raise his gun against the
Lords. anointed!
Charles was pleased, and asked
Blood what he thought of his present
position. The Colonel answered that
he had no thought for himself; he
fought only of the King! Scores of men
as desperate as himself had sworn to
kill the King if any one of them should
be put to death. Only one way was
open to save His Majesty's life: he.
Blood, and his fellows, must be par-
doned! And pardoned they were forth
with
The crown that Blood did not steal
is still among the regalia, and will ap-
pear at the coronation of Edward VII
of England.