Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-10

pale.
1--WE have a good deal Of plate"
hurriedly explained. "This man, who
passed himself off for you, protested to
admire it very much, and we showed
him all we had, and, oh dear. how we
locked it up, and everything"
81 should fear he had designs upon
it. 1t is most mysterious affair all
through. OF course, you have only
nv assertion that I am Wentworth
Allardyce--"
"we don't doubt that for one mo-
ment," said my husband.
"But if you come to lakewood"
went on the vicar, "my pensioners
will be able to certify that l am their
vicar and no other"
"Indeed, | think we ought to 60
back to London at once" said my hus-
band, who was evidently uneasy. 81
fear we have been duped by persua-
sive stranger, and that this garden-party
pretence is only a dodge to get us out
Of the way. Our house is probably
now being robbed
But, Charlie, there is Eliza
"Mr. Allardyce knows nothing about
her. Her character must have been
forgery"
:" So it must" | said, feeling COM
pletely overwhelmed. "Oh, l wish
the train would stop, so that we could
get out and go back to London"
SIT stops before long at Marsham
Junction" said Mr.. Allardyce. You
can catch London train there
SIS not wax used to take the impress
sion Of a key" | asked, as another
recollection came to me. 81 found a
piece Of wax on the floor Of the plate
room, Charlie-after-after that man
had been there"
"Then we may say goodbye to our
Queen Anne tea. service" said my hus-
band grimly as the train gave warn
ing whistle.
"This is Marsham," said Mr.. Altar
dyce, letting down the window. Il
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 porter told us the London
train was just going.
We had fearful scramble, and, quite
out of breath, were bundled into car
rage at the very end of the train, which
was already moving. 1t 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 60 back to the house at first L
agreed-though very unwillingly-to
wait at neighbours until he came for
me. He took hanson at Waterloo,
and we dashed homeward at great speed.
At the police-station nearest to our
house Charlie got out, and, after few
minutes conversation with the in
spector, 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
policemen were also to do, so as not to
alarm any one who might be in our
house with the sound of wheels stop
ping at the door. Charlie left me at
my friends house and turned back to
meet the cab full Of policemen which
was just in sight. Ny friends house
was nearly opposite our own, and, after
a hurried explanation, took my stand
behind the curtains in the dining-room
window to watch, feeling quite sick
with apprehension. In 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 sign of anything about
to happen.
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 off their boots, and Char
lie nOisclessly admitted himself and
them with his latch-key.
| had watched for about twenty
minutes in an agony of dread, when |
saw the door open and my husband
came out. lie was by my side almost
Immediately, and told me what had
passed. Nobody met them in the hall,
and they made their entry quite upper
ceiyed. 1t may 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
supposed to be safe at lakewood
by this time, where, but for
most fortunate accident, we should
have been-and "Mr. Allardyce"
and his gang thought themselves
perfectly secure from interruption.
Charlie and his party crept eau
tiously up the stairs, hearing voices
and laughter coming from above.
On the first landing 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 themselves surround
ed by the policemen with drawn
truncheons they were blank with
amazement. MIR. Allardyce mot
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, aud my
sanity parlormaid, laughing at the ruse
which had been successfully practiced
on her master and mistress, was help
ing the housemaid to roll up the plate
in green baize bags.
"Mr. Allardyce" drew 4 revolver,
but before it could be discharged he
was stunned by a blow from the Ser
geant's truncheon. The others were
quickly secured, and, escorted by the