The Washington herald., 1912-04-07

ed the window, which is covered with
thick curtains, l suddenly felt the wind
blow upon my face, and realized that
it was open. | flung the curtain aside,
and found myself face to face with a
broad-shouldered elderly man, who had
just stepped into the room. The win
dow is a 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
l saw two others, who were in the
act of entering. / stepped back, but the
fellow was on me in an instant. He
caught me first by the wrist, and then
by the throat. l opened my mouth to
scream, but he struck me savage blow
with his fist over the eye, and felled me
to the ground. ] must have been un-
conscious for few minutes, for when
| came to myself, | found that they
had torn down the bell-rope, and had
secured me tightly to the oaken chair
which stands at the head of the dining
table. was so firmly bound that /
could not move, and a handkerchief
round my mouth prevented me from ut
tering sound. Ii was at this instant
that my unfortunate husband entered
the room. He had evidently heard some
suspicious sounds, and he came pre-
pared for such scene as he found. He
was dressed IN his shirt and trousers,
with his favorite blackthorn cudgel in
his hand. He rushed at the burglars,
but another-it was an elderly man
stopped, 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. tainted once
more, but again it could only have been
for very few minutes during which
was insensible When | opened my
eyes | found that they had collected
the silver from the sideboard, and they
had drawn bottle of wine which stood
there. Each of them had a glass in his
hand. | have already told you, have
| not, that one was elderly, with beard,
and the others young, hairless lads.
They might have been a father with
his two sons. They talked together In
whispers Then they came over and
made sure that j was securely bound
II was quite quarter of an hour be-
fore | 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 all that can
tell you, gentlemen, and / trust that it
will not be necessary for me to go over
so painful story again"
Any questions, Mr., Holmes?" asked
Hopkins.
Il will not impose any further tax
upon Lady Brackenstalps patience and
time" said Holmes. Before go into
the dining-room, | should like to hear
your experience" He looked at the
maid.
II saw the men before ever they came
into the house." said she. "As / sat
by my bedroom window saw three men
in the moonlight down by the lodge gate
yonder, but thought nothing of it 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 a woman out of
her wits, tied there, and her very dress
spotted with him, but she never wanted
courage, did Miss Mary Fraser of Ade-
laide, and Lady Brackenstall of Abbey
Grange hasn't learned new ways. You've
questioned her long enough, you gentle
men, and now she is coming to her own
room, just with her old Theresa, to get
the rest that she badly needs" .
With motherly tenderness the gaunt