The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-06-06
The Southbury
Robbery

IL was the week or the south
bury Hunt Steeplecbase meeting, and
the Old Red Lion Southbury, was
packed with hunting men and their
parties.
There were the Earl and Countess
of Woodmansterne, Viscount and
Viscountess Morden, Sir Jocelyn and
Lady Tamworth, Gen. Wynn-Par-
sons. the Dowager Lady Titcombe,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Cyrus Bedding
ton, a wealthy couple, who had taken
huntingdon in the Southbury
country for the season, and, by their
lavish hospitality had made them
selves very popular in the local So
ciety.
Now Mrs. Beddington had some
exceptionally fine diamonds, of which
she was pardonably proud. But they
were also a source of considerable
anxiety to her, in asmuch as she
lived in constant fear of having them
stolen.
On the present occasion, coming
down to Southbury from London.
where she had been staying a few
days, she had q fright of this descrip-
tion, which upset her n good deal,
and of which she gave her guests gra-
phic particulars at dinner that even
Ing.
She had noticed tall, well-dres-
sed man of rather sinister expression,
following her about on the platform
at Euston, while she was waiting for
her train, and she felt intuitively
that he had designs upon her jewel
case. This impression was strength
ened when, finding herself moment
arily in a crowd, she was jostled by
somebody, and turning quickly
round, recognized the same suspic-
ious individual.
And it was absolutely confirmed In
the course of her journey when she
noticed him standing in the corridor
Just outside her compartment, with
his eyes fixed upon her.
81 can't tell you what a feeling 1t
gave me when ! saw him there" she
said with a little shudder. at
seemed to send the cold creeps all
down my back, and though there
were several other people in the
carriage | was so frightened that
was half-minded to call the guard:
only l recollected that / couldn't
prove anything against the man
81 should think not, my dear"
interposed her matter-of-fact hus-
band, laughing the incident aside
with goodhumored contempt. IF
you had done anything so foolish
you might have found yourself In
serious hot water. For have little
doubt that you were merely the vic
tim Of your own nervous fancy, and
that the man in question was a per-
fectly harmless and respectable mem
Der of society"
Indeed, but ! am absolutely GER
tain he was nothing of the kind"
replied Mrs. Beddington, with con-
viction. And II you had been there,
Cyrus, and had taken note of his ap-
pearance and his behavior, you
must have formed the same conclu-
sion as l did. / tell you.
know the man was shadowing me,
and that he was after my diamonds.
/ don't think he'd even have stuck
at-at-violence, to effect his pur-
pose" she added with shudder,
"and-well, l haven't got over the
horrible fright he gave me yet"
The lady more or less recovered
her composure. But 1t was evident
that she was still by no means
herself. and that she was only retain
ing her place at the head of the din
ner table by an effort.
BY and by she collapsed alto
gether. and instead Of sitting up to
witness the fulldress rehearsal of
some theatrieals. she had to ring for
her maid and retire to bed.
Cyrus, however, made light of 1t.
He was too much accustomed to
these hysterical attacks on the part
OF his wke to take them seriously. |
Its pity she will give to these
nervous fancies," he said. "She Is |
always imagining that people arc
after her diamonds. sometimes |
almost wish that the diamonds might |
be stolen and done with--thougn |
they are worth 10000"
Some hours later Cyrus was sitting !
In the smoking room, when one of |
the chamber maids entered hurriedly. |
"Oh! II you please. SIR" she ex-
claimed. Mrs. Beddington wants |
you to go up to her at once"
"Hilloa! What's the matter now?"
inquired Cyrus.
She's had fright. sir. She
woke up few minutes ago, and saw
a mans face at her window, peering |
Into the room; and she says she's |
sure he meant robbery. And she's
that upset by 1t. sir"
II am afraid must wish you good |
night" he said. my wife has had |
tremendous fright. She asserts.
not only that she saw a mans face at |
her bedroom window, but that 1t was
the face of the man whom she des-
crtbed to us at dinner this evening as
having shadoWed her on her iour