The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-23

Ind ge back to London."
 Ut stops before long at Markham ruuction," said Mir. Allardyce. "You eau catch London train there"
 "is not wax used to take the impFes- s;ou of a keyr asked, as another rec ollection came to me. "I found a piece of wax on the floor of the plate room Charlie, after-after that man had been there"
 "Then Is may say gecd-hy to our Queen Anne tea-service said my hus- Band grimly, as the train gave a warning whistle.
 "This is Marsham," said Mr. Allardyce, letting down the window. "I trust you will let me know how you found things At home" he added kindly, as we got out We gave him a hurried farewell, and dashed down the platform. where a por- ter told us the London train was just 20 ing.
 We had fearful scramble, and, quite out of breath, were bundled into a car riage at the very end of the train, which vas already moving. It was third-class and not over- clean, but we were only too glad to get in at all.
 During the brief journey back, Charlie told me what he intended to do; and as he did not think it would be safe for me to go back to the house at first, I agreed though very unwillingly-to wait at a neighbours until he came for me. He took hanson at Waterloo, and we dashed homeward at great speed. At the police station nearest our house Charlie got out, and after few minutes conver- sation with the inspector, we resumed our way. Four constables, under the command of a sergeant, were to follow in another cab immediately. We got out at the end of our road, which the police men were also to do, so as not to alarm any one who might be in our house with the sound of wheels stopping at the door. Charlie Jeff me at my friends house, and turned back to meet the cab full of po- lcemen which was ust in sight My friend house was nearly opposite our own, and, after hurried explanation, l took my stand behind the curtains in the dining room window to watch, feeling quite sick with apprehension. h front of our house, hitched by the reins to the lamp-post, was a small truck, drawn by one horse, such as might have belonged to any respectable tradesman, and that was the only external sign ot anything about to happen.
 l saw Charlie and his company come down the street. One policeman quietly descended into the area, and stood there ready to arrest anybody who attempted to escape that way; two remained on guard outside the front door the others slipped of theis boots, and Charlie noise lessly admitted himself and them with his latch key.
 had watched for about twenty miu- utes in an agony of dread when saw the door open, and my husband came out. He was by my side almost immediately and told me what had passed. Nobody met them in the hall, and they made their entry quite unperceived. ltm y be wondered at that no one was on the watch to give the alarm. But the plate room was at the back of the house, away from the road and besides, we were sup posed to be sate at Oakwood by this time where, but for the most fortunate acci- dent, we should have been-and "Mr. Allardyce ard his gang thought them selves perfectly secure from interruption. Charlie and his party crept cautiously up the stairs, hearing voices and laughter coming from above. On the first land ing was wooden piano case. in which ingenious and innocent receptacle our plate was to be packed, and put on the truck which was waiting at the door, in which guise it might safely be trusted to elude the notice of every policeman in London The thieves were so secure in their fancied safety that when the door was pushed open and they found them selves surrounded by policemen with drawn truncheons, they were blank with amazement. Mir. Allardyce "-not in clerical costume this time-had opened the press with the false keys which the wax impressions he had taken enabled him to make. A second man, the driver of the truck at the door, was standing by with chisel and my saintly parlor- maid, laughing at the ruse which had been successfully practiced on her master and mistress, was helping the house maid to roll up the plate in green baize bags.
 "Mr. Allardyce" drew a revolver bu, before it could be discharged, he was stunned by blow from the sergeant's truncheon. The others were quickly se- cured, and escorted by the policemen were driven off to the nearest police court to be charged before the sit ing magis- trate. Our plate was saved; bat it had the narrowest escape in the world. Oaly ten minutes more, and the thieves would have got clear of with their booty, and we should never have seen vestige ot it again.
 The conspirators had contrived to send cook on an elrand which would detain her an hour or two, soon after Charlie and Jeff. The housemaid-who,it it will be remembered, came to me through Eliza-was in the plot and they thought themselves safe. The parlor-maid in whom trusted so implicitly was a mem- Der, sub rosa, of the swell mob, of which distinguished profession "Mr. Altar dyce," who had received a good educa- ton, was one of the brightest ornaments. HA knA eAA E.H