The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-16


 panions. The latter were very unpre- possessing young men, and would have been out of place in a gentleman din- ing-room. On seeing them, it occurred to MT. Bittleston that he had been a lit- tie too Precipita,e with his invitations, and it was partly owing to this reflection that he took down the clergy list on reaching the house, and searched for tt.e Rev. Mir. Mark Avery's name. He found it duly recorded. and learned that the young man was curate of St. Blaise's church, one of the largest and poorest parishes in the east of London.
 The parson made his appearance at dinner, and created a favorable impres- sion. He won Mr. Bittleston's heart by taking an immense interest in the house and grounds, and insisting on being shown over them. His tales of the suf- fering poor of his parish, and his modes, references to his own arduous life, elicited the sympathy of the ladies, and, in fact, the evening passed off so well that, on his rising to leave. old MT. Bit,le<ton pressed him to remain a day in the neighborhood, so as to visit the church and other objects of local interest !" No. thank you, I'm afraid we must not finger he said, shaking his host warmly by the hand :" we have our work GU, out to TOW to Oxford and back 10 town by Saturday. must think of my compan- ions.n Well, at all events, come and have breakfast with us tomorrow. said the old gentleman.
 We must be several stages on our road before your breakfast hour, he said !, as he saluied the ladies in turn .' by ,he-by. he added. addressing Mir. Bi,,le- ston. there IS one small favor. venture to ask of you. May leave portman,eau here. and fetch II on our way down Fri day or Sa,urday:'
 Certainly" said the old gentleman promptly.
 |" find we have good many things we shan't need. now that the weather has set in fair. ne esofained: there Are always some cooking utensils we can dis peRse with. It IS desirable to tighten our boat, and by leaving the por,man,eau here have an excuse for calling on our way back"
 We shall be delighted to see you" said Mt; Bittles,on and if you leave the portmantcau at the house to- o-morrow morning. 1t shall be taken care of.
 The Rev. Mark then took his depart ure. Mex, morning the party had lief, when the family came down to breakfast. but the parson had entrusted the port manteau to one of the servants The following day he wrote few lines to Mir. Bittles,on from Reading. sending piece of music which he had recommended one of the young ladies 10 get. and beg ging that she would accept 1t. as he hap pened to come across il m the music shop in the town. The little ae, If poli.euess excited less attention than Il might otherwise have done, tecause the letter arrived while every one was in great state of excitement. The discovery had just been made that large quantity of lewelry, plate and other articles had been abstraoted from safe in Mir Biuleston's dresslng-room. The loss was so consid- erable that Mir. Bit,leston immediately telegraphed to Scotland-yard. not caring 10 entrust the matter to the local police In response a detective appeared upon the scene, and made careful inspection of the premises. The safe was unin- Jured. and the lock had not been tamper. ed with.
 It was cleverly done. but there was no magic in it" said the inspector. sharp-eyed little man named Hardiss " the lock is very ordinary one and has evidently been opened with key
 !" But who could have done i,! am abou, the house and grounds all day and nobody could have got in and out with out being observed said MT. Bit;leston. in great iius;er.
 Its case of burglary" answered the inspector; there are no signs of forci ble entrance having been effected, bu, some of the windows on the ground floor have no shutters, and may have been unlocked
 Then you don't suspect any of the servants" said MT. B,itleston !" indeed can answer for them all.'
 Well" said the inspector. shrugeine his shoulders, 1 can't express an opin- ion al present. Have you had any stran- ger in the house la,ely?"
 No said Mir. Bittleston, adding. as he remembered the Rev. Mark Avery. :" by, the-by clergyman Gined here a night or two ago-a curate of a London parish. He was the only visitor the last lew oays.
 The inspector asked no questions abou, the parson. but Mir. Bittles,on resolved to make a journey to the east end. and as- certain beyond doub, that the Rev Mark was the person he represented him. self to be. He had no difficulty about this, and had the satisfaction of feeling upon his return, that he had no, com mit,ed an indiscretion It so happened that when he called al the Rev. Mark Averys address he met his friends vicar coming out of the door Mr. Bi,,leston easily ascertained that the young cura,e had gone on boating expedition to OK ford with two companions. and this evil dence appeared quite conclusive. He made clumsy excuse to the vicar to ae- count for his soiici,ude. and made his way home. feeling ashamed of himself.
 The following evening. Inspector Har- diss called io renor, progress. and to ask few further questions. Mf Bi,tleston was out in the garden. and the officer tnfped hin, pp the f,u0