Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-09-06
s%iorate sobbing. AZ last she CONT,

siorate sobbing. AZ last she cont,n.
ued.
Il will tell you about last night. You
are aware. perhaps. that in this house
~! the servants Steep in the modern
wing. ms central block is made ur
OF the dwelling rooms. with the kitchen
pehlnd II ON bed room above. NJ,
maid, Theresa, sleeps above my room
There is no one else. and no sound
could alarm those who are in the far
Their wing. This must have been wei
known To the robbers. or they would
not have acted as they did.
Sir lIustacc retired about half-past
ten. The servants had already gone tc
their quarters. only my maid wa IN
and she had remained in her room at
the top of the house uptil | needed her
services. | 81, nnti' ter II in This
room. absorbed in : ,ok. Then |
walked round To SEQ -, all Was right
before l went upstairs. 1t was my
custom to do this myself, for. as |
have explained. Sir Eustace was not
always to be trusted. l went into the
kitchen. the buffers pantry, the gun
room. HI billiard room. the drawing
room. and finally the dining room. AS
l approached the window. which is
covered with thick curtains. l suddenly
felt the wind blow upon my face. and
realized that ii Was open. / flung the
curtain aside. and found myself face
to face With a broad-shouldercd elder
ly man. who had just stepped into the
room. The window is a long French
one. which really forms "A door leading
to the lawn. ! held my bed room cam
die lit in my hand. and, by its light,
behind the first man l saw two others.
who We're In the act of entering. 1
stepped back. but the fellow was on
me in an instant. He caught me first
by the wrist. and then by the throat.
opened my mouth to scream. but he
struck me a savage blow with his fist
over the eye, and felled me to tie
ground. must have been unconscious
for n few minutes. for when / came to
myself l found hat they had torn down
the bell rope and had secured me tight
ly To the oaken chair which stands at
the head of the dining table. I was so
firmly bound that l could not move.
and Il handkerchief round my mouth
prevented me from uttering a sound.
1T was at his instant that my unfor-
tunate husband entered the room. He
had evidently heard some suspicious
sounds. and he came prepared for such
n scene as he found. He was dressed
IN ms shirt and trousers, with his ia
vorite blackthorn cudgel in his hand.
he rushed at the burglars, but another
1T was an elderly man, STOPPED.
picked the poker out of the CRATE. ana
struck him a horrible blow as he
passed. He fell with a groan. and
never moved again. l tainted once
more. but again it could only have been
for a very few minutes during which
l was insensible. When 1 opened my
eyes l found that they had collected
the silver from the s~ideboard. and they
had drawn a bottle of wine which stood
there. Each OF them had a glass in
ms hand. have already told you.
have l not. that one was elderly, with
q beard, and the others young, hair
less lads? They might have been a
father with his two sons. They talked
in whispers. Then they came
over and made sure thai / was securely
bound. Finally they withdrew, clos
Ing the window after them. 1t was
my mouth free. When I did so.
my creams brought the maid to my
assistance. The other were
soon alarmed, and we sent for the local
who Instantly communicated
with London. That is really all that 1
can tell you, gentlemen. and l trust
1t will not be necessary for me TO
over so painful a story again"
ANY questions, Mr.. Holiness" asked
Hopkins.
Il will not impose any further tax
Lady Brackenstall's patience and
said Holmes. Before | go in
to the dining room. l should like to
hear your experience" He looked at
The maid.
Il saw the men before ever they
into the house." said she. As
| sat by my bed room window I saw
three men in the moonlight down by
the lodge gate yonder. but | thought
nothing of it at the time. 1t was more
thin an hour after that i heard my