Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-23


proprieties and its primness. is not con
genial TO me- But the main reason
lies IN the one fact which is notorious
TO every one. and that Is that Sir Eus-
tace was a confirmed drunkard To be
with such a man for an hour is n
pleasant. Can you imagine what IL
means for a sensitive and high spirited
woman 10 be tied 10 him for day and
night? II is a sacrllege. a crime. q
villainy. TO hold thar such a marriage is
binding I say that these monstrous
laws % yours will bring curse upon
the land. God will not let such wicked
ness endure" For an instant she sat
up. her cheeks flushed and her eyes
blazing from under the terrible mark
upon her brow. Then the strong,
soothing hand of the austere maid
drew her head down on 10 the cushion.
and the wild anger died away into
passionate sobbing At last she con-
tinued:
Il viii tell you about last night You
are aware, perhaps. that in this house
all the servants sleep in the modern
wing. This central blocbSSs made up
Of the dwelling rooms. with the kitchen
behind and our bedroom above. My
maid, Theresa. sleeps above my room.
There is no one else. and no sound could
alarm those who are IN the farther
wing. This must have been well known
70 the robbers or they would not have
acted as they did.
"Sir Eustace retired about half past
10. The servants had already gone 10
their quarters. only my maid was up.
and she had remained in her room AT
the top Of the house until / needed her
services. ] sat until after II i'm this
room. absorbed I'm a book: then I walk
ed round 10 see that all was right be-
fore l went upstairs. Ii was my Gus
tom 10 DO this myself, for. as I have
| explained. Sir Eustace was not always
70 be trusted. ! went into the kitchen.
the buffers pantry. the gun room. the
billiard room. the drawing room and
| finally the dining room. As APP
preached the window. which is covered
with thick curtains. I suddenly fels the
wind blow upon my face and realized
| that IL was open. ] flung the curtain
aside and found myself face 10 face
with broad shouldered. elderly man.
who had just stepped into the room.
! The window is long French one.
which really forms a door leading to
the lawn. / held my bedroom candle
| lit in my hand. and by its light behind
| the first man | saw two others. who
were in the act OF entering / stepped
back. but the fellow was on me In an
instant lie caught me first by the
wrist and then ly the throat ! opened
my mouth 10 scream. but he struck me
a savage blow with his fist over the
eye and felled me 10 the ground.
must have been unconscious for few
minutes, for when ! came 10 myself
/ found thar they had torn down the
bell rope ana had secured me tightly
10 the oaken chair which stands at the
head OF the dining table. I was SO
firmly bound that could not move. and
handkerchief round my mouth pre-
vented me from utrering a sound IL
was at this instant that my unrortu-
nate husband entered the room. He
had evidently heard some SuS' lclous
sounds. and be came prepared for such
scene as he found He was dressed
In his shirt and trousers. with his Ia
vorite blackthon cudgel ia his hand
He rushed at the burglars. bur an
other-lt was an elderly man-stooped.
picked the poker out OF the crate and
struck him a horrible blow as he
passed. He fell. with a groan. and
never moved again.
Il tainted once more. but again II
could only have been for a very few
minutes during which l was insensI-
Die When l opened my eyes I found
that they had collected the silver from
the sldeboard, and they had drawn
bottle OF wine which stood there. Each
OF them had n glass in his hand.
have already told you, have / not that
one was elderly, with a beard. and the
Others young, hairless lads? They
might have been a father with his Two
sons. They talked together in whis-
pers. Then they came over and made
sure that / was securely bound. FL
nally they withdrew, closing the win
dow after them. 1t was quite a quar-
ter of an hour before I got my mouth
free. When ! did so my screams
brought the maid TO my assistance
The other servants were soon alarmed
and we sent for the local police. who
instantly communicated with London.
That is really ali that ! can tell Won.
gentlemen. and l trust that il will not
be necessary for me 10 90 over so pain
ful story again"
ANY questions, Mr.. HolmesY" asked
Hopkins.
81 viii not impose any further tax
upon Lady BrackenstaIrs patience and
time" said Holmes. Before 1 go into
the dining room l should like to hear
your experience" lie looked at the
maid.
Il saw the men before ever they
came into the house." said she. .As
sat by my bedroom window I saw
three men in the moonlight down by
the lodge gate yonder. but / thought
nothing Of il at the time. Ii was more
than an hour after that heard my
mistress scream, and down / ran to
find her, poor lamb. just as she says.
and him on the floor, with his blood
and brains over the room. II was
enough to drive woman out OF her
wits, tied there and her very dress spot
Nr.I II.