Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1909-02-11

Lord lverdale's little speech was
an admirable example of after din
ner oratory- light of touch, felici-
tous jim phrase, but, in the opinion
OF some of his guests, trifle long.
A venerator Of the past, his lord
ship chung to the methods of a
more deliberate generation. Sand
ford irreverently remarked to the
girl at his .sides "a ripping old chap
but post-chaise in an age of mo-
tor cars
AS the host resumed his seat amid
polite applause, and general
movement relaxed, the butler APP
preached with an announcement Tor
his master S private ear.
II beg your lordship's pardon,
he said in discretly low voice,
but there's burglar in the house"
ga burglar Confound his inn
pudence Where is he2"
1--WE don't exactly know, your
lordship. One of the maids, hear
ing a noise in the library, looked
in and saw a man at the safe. She
went to call one of tht footmen, and
when they got back the man had
Disappeared. He couldn't get out
of the window, so he must have
slipped up your private staircase to
the floor above. If your lordship
will allow me I'll put Jarvis In my
place here and take charge of the
search"
very good, Haskins. Go by all
means. Wait moment-here is the
key to my desk. lake the revolver
you will find in the right hand top
drawer; you may need 1t. AS soon
as l can get away without alarm
ing the ladies l =. join you"
~ His clean-shaven countenance as
impassive as ever, the butler left
the room with his customary delib-
Grafton of movement. Once out
side the door, he went quickly to
the library, procured the revolver,
and hurried up stairs. At the top
of the first flight he found two of
the footmen and a groom.
Cant find i'm nowhere, Mr..
'Askins,' said one of the men.
We've united in every likely place
where e could be 'idin, and there
amt sign of i'm.
"How about the left wing and the
servants quarters?'
The men looked at one another
somewhat sheepishly.
1--WE ardly thought ed be in our
part of the ouse,' explained the
one who had spoken before; land
land as Bill ere was just sayin'
bein' as none of us is armed"
You're lot of cowardsl' growl-
ed the old man. "Stay here and
watch the stairs, and III go up my
self"
Pistol in hand, the butler went
through the new wing and the SER
wants quarters, room by room, turn
ing on the electric light as he
opened each door. AS he approach
ed his own room he thought he
heard a sound within. Listening
for a moment, he was sure of it..
Very carefully he turned the knob
and entered; so accustomed was
his hand to the working of the
lock that he was able 40 do this
quite noiselessly.
Near the window at the farther
end of the room he saw, dimly out
lined in the moonlight, the figure
of man. The intruder was busy
with something which apparently in
volved the ripping of cloth. Has
kins softly closed the door behind
him and turned on the light.
Dropping the sheet ne was tear
ing, the man stared at the butler
with CONSERVATION which turned
to quizzical amazement.
"Well, I'm blowed!" he ejacu-
lated. IF it amt the gunner!
Who'd ave expected to find you
ERE? You gave me proper start
turnin' on the glim so sudden. Wot
are you dom with that piece of
ironmongery in yer and?"
Looking for the thief who was
robbing my masters house." was
the stern reply And it seems I've
found him!"
"You certainly ave. old Sherlock
dimes, thanks to that COMPOUNDED
'ousemaid downstairs. If she 'adn't
been nosin' around I'd ave left by
the front door like a gentleman, in
stead of bein' redooced to the neces.
sity of secloodin' myself ere, all
in the dark, and maxim rope out
of these bloomin' sheets. But now
you've turned up so unexpected,
you can save me the trouble. You
know the 'ouse, of course, from top
to bottom. Amt there a more dig