The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-11
(Continued.)


did not hear either from Reginald or Mr..
Rolfe. That made her little anxious.
On the third day Compton asked her,
with an angry flush on his brow. whether
she had not sent Reginald UP to London.
Eyes, dear" said Lady Bassett
''Well. he is not gone, then"
"Ohw
"He is living at his nurses. I saw
him talking to an old gypsy that lives
on the farm"
Lady Bassett groaned. but said moth
ing
Never mind. mamma" said Compton.
"Your other children must love you all
the more"
This news caused Lady Bassett both
anxiety and terror. she OWNED bad
faith, and all manner of treachery. none
the less terrible for being vague.
Down went her health again. and her
short-lived repose.
Meantime Reginald. In reality. was
staying at the farm on little business
OF his own
lie had concerted an expedition with
the foreign gent, and was waiting for
dark and gusty night.
He had undertaken this expedition with
mixed motives, spite and greed. especial
iy the latter He would never nave
undertaken IL with a FIVE hundred pound
check In his pocket; but some minds are
so constituted they cannot forego bad
design once formed; so Mr.. Reginald per-
sisted. though one great motive existed
no longer.
On this expedition II is now our lot TO
accompany him.
The night was favorable, and at about
two o'clock Reginald and the foreign gent
stood under Richard Bassetts dining
room, with Grape over their eyes, noses.
and mouths. and all manner OF unlawful
implements In their pockets
The foreiSn gent pried the shutters
open with a little crowbar; he then, with
Il. a GLACIERS diamond, soon cut out a small
pane. inserted a cunning hand, and
opened the window
Then Reginald gave him leg, and he
got into the room.
The agile youth followed him without
assistance.
They lighted a sort OF bulls -eye. and
poured the concentrated light on the cup
board door. behind which lay the treasure
of glorious old plate.
Then the foreign gent produced ...s
skeleton keys, and. after several ineffect-
I've trials. opened the door softly and re-
vealed the glittering booty.
At sight OF II the foreign gent could
not suppress an ejaculation. but the
younger one clapped his hand before his
mouth hurriedly.
The foreign gent unrolled a sort OF
green baize apron he had around him:
IT was, In reality. a bag.
Into this receptacle the pair conveyed
one piece after another with surprising
dexterity. rapidity and noiselessness.
When II was full. they began to fill the
deep pockets OF their shooting Jackets.
2 While thus employed. they heard
rapid footstep. and Richard Bassett
opened the door. lie was In his trousers
and shirt. and had a pistol In his hand
AZ sight OF him Reginald uttered cry
OF dismay; the foreign gent blew out the
light
Richard Bassett. among whose faults
want OF personal courage was not one,
rushed forward and collared Reginald
But the foreign gent had raised the
crowbar TO defend himself. and struck
him a blow on the head that made him
stagger back.
The foreign gent seized this opportun-
ity and ran at once at the window and
jumped at it,
II Reginald had been first. he would
have gone through like cat, but the
foreign gent, older, and obstructed by
the contents of his pockets, wiggled. and
stuck a few seconds In the window
That breif delay was fatal: Richard Bas-
sett leveled his pistol deliberately at him,
fired and sent ball through his shoulder;
he fell like a log upon the ground out
side
Richard then leveled another barrel at
Reginald, but he howled out for quarter.
and was Immediately captured, with the
assistance OF the brave Jessie, who now
came boldly to her masters aid his hands
were tied behind him, and he was made
prisoner, with the stolen articies in his
pocket.
When they were tying him. he whlro-
pered and said IT was only n lark; he
never meant TO keep anything. He Of
fered a hundred pounds down II they
would let him of.
But there was no mercy for him.
Richard Bassett had candle lighted.
and inspected the prisoner. He lifted
his Grape veil, and said "Oho!
You see IL was only lark" sale Regi-
nald and shook in every limb.
Richard Basse.t smiled grimly. and said
nothing. lie gave Jessie strict orders
10 hold her tongue, and she and he be-
tween them took Reginald and locked him
up I'm a small room adjoining the kitchen.
Then they went TO look for the other
burglar.
He had emptied his pockets OF all the
plate, and crawled away. 1t Is supposed
he threw away the plate, either TO soften
Reginalds offence. or In the belief that
he had received his death wound and
should not require silver vessels where
he was going.
Bassett picked up the articles and
brought them In and told Jessie TO light
the fire and make him a cup or coffee.
He replaced all the plate. except the
articles left In Reginald's pockets.
Then he went upstairs. and told his wife
that burglars had broken into the house,
but had taken nothing; she was to give
herself no anxiety. lie told her no more
than this. for his dark and cruel nature
had already conceived an Idea he did
not care TO communicate TO her. on ac-
count OF the strong opposition he foresaw
from so good a. Christian. besides. of
late, since her daughter came home TO
back her. she had spoken her mind more
than once.
lie kept her then I'm the dark. and went
downstairs again TO his coffee.
lie sat and slipped II, and, with ~. HIS
coming vengeance.
All the defeats and notifications he
had endured from Huntercombe returned
90 his mind; and now. with one master
stroke, he would balance them all
Yet he felt n little compunction.