The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-01-17

m.- VS. Ssme in Eliza brought in coffee, after
s %Sc Sna we had t, and SUs bad come
believe Charlie when he said that tu. '" tne
for ordering me brcuRhafn TO take our gnc..ss,,
station Mr.. Allardyce babe Us friendly fafewcll
and was most urgent In his desire that We should
tsIt Uatwood before long. We promised TO do 50,
and parted delighted with OUR visitor, whose pleas
4 rev days Afterwards Received the following
letter: .,.....,. A..
DEAR MRS. LESTER: ] trust you and Dr. Lester
have not forgotten your promise TO come and visit
MS this summer. This glorious weather makes the
soIn especially SoyaSeG and mrs arsse
next, al which we should be very glad to have the
pleasure Of Your company. Some famous local
tennis-payers have promised TO come, with whom
your husband ought 10 try his skill. IN case DR..
Testers engagements should not permit him to re-
main here for the night there ls train for town a.
meet you at the station With Kind regards, I re.
main very sincerely yours, ,......
After some little discussion we agreed to go, but
decided that 1t would he better not to stay all night
SO | wrote note to that eject and despatched
ss invited @ To- aS oe and az mat we
were going on Thursday. The good girl was de-
On the e. niordIne of Thursday my husband started
very early on his rounds, while made an elaborate
toilet In honor Of the occasion, and 10y twelve O'Clock
eakwood. The only other person in the carriage
was an elderly clergyman, very gray and fragile
looking, but with a good, kind face. He asked me
whether liked the window up or down, and from
remarking on the fine weather and one thing and
another he and Charlie soon gst into conversation.
People always talk to my husband when he is on
journey. suppose his genial face and manner at
tract them AT all events, never knew him travel
any distance without somebody entering into cen
versation with HIM. He and the clergyman began
discussing politics. and sympathzed most cordially,
both being ardent Conservatives. Then they talked
on general topics for few minutes, and then ram.
bled on TO continental experiences Our companion
told us that he had living In Surrey, but that his
health had been so bad latterly that he had been
compelled TO travel abroad for three months, his
duty being taken by clerical friend meanwhile
81 was in Manchester for many years, he said.
81 had very populous parish, and the work was 80
country vicarage. But OakweOd lies So lew, and
there are many trees that 1t is sadly unhealthy"
lockwood" involuntarlly asked.
"Yes, lakewood In Surrey, near Guiford. Do You
know the placer"
1--WE are on our way there now," I said, ITO a
garden-party at the vicarage."
"At the ylcarage?" he repeated, looking very
much astonshed.
Eyes suppGsS there are two churches in the
"No, my dear madam, only one--st. Pauls, of
which 1 am the vicar"
never felt so puzzled in my life, and he looked
equally bewildered.
aRut the vicar of lakewood is MIR. Alardyce."
"My name is Wentworth Allardyce." He took up
his travelIng-bag and showed me his name and adj
dress engraved on small silver plate. Charlie and
exchanged Chances. Our companion was evidently
gentleman, and we could not think of doubling his
assertion. ON the other hand, who was the ether
charming Mr.. Allardyce?
''lIave yon son or relative of the same name ~
asked Charlie; ga young man with dark hair and
particularly agreeable manners.'
81 have no children. My wife has been dead for
years. MY only nephew, John Allardyce, Is in Can
| ada with his regiment"
"weii really, this is most incomprehcnsibe "
said Charlie, astouDded. "our. parlor maid, Eliza
Willis, whom you recommended TO us"
"My dear SIR SAID the clergyman, looking at him
as II he thought he must he an escaped lunatic, 81
never had servant called Eliza Willis in my life
| al n
III am DR.. Lester, of Noting HILL" said Charlie,
ordinary thing. We engaged parlor maid about
three months ago, who said abe had been living al
lakewood vicarage with MIR. Allardyce. She said he
was then at Folkestone SO We wrotc there, and re.
ceived an excellent character'-
:, Excuse my interrupting you, but never was al
| sand few days ago, a mir Allardyce' called to
see her as he was passing through London. He
spent the evening with us, and we were both de-
vtation, to garden party at lakewood vicarage.'
"Then, my good sir. fear you have been imposed
| princpled person must have made use of my name
/ have been abroad for three months. and am just
| returning to lakewood. assure you have not the
slightest intention OF giving a garden-party; my
bachelor household does not admit of gayetles Of that
kind"
| turned pale.
1--WE have a good deal of plate,' hurredlv ex.
|
| you, professed to admire IL very much; and we
showed him all we had, and, dear how we locked
| 1t IN, and everything
II should fear he had designs upon It, 1t lisa
most mysterious affair all through. OF course you
have only my assertions that am Wentworth AL
1--WE don't doubt that for one moment" said my
| husband
''my Pensioners will be able to certify that ar
| their vicar, and no other"
"Indeed, / think we ought to go back to London al
| once" said my husband, who was evidently uneasy
81 fear we have been duped by persuasive stranger
and that this garden-party pretense is only dodge
to get us out of the way. Our house is probably
"But, Charlie, there is EliZa?'
"Mr. Allardyce knows nothing about her. Hell
| character must have been a forgery
$50 it must" l said, feeling completely over
whelmed. "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. salt
Mr.. Allardyce. "You can catch asLondon tralr
| there"
l asked, as another recollection came to me. "a
found piece OF wax on the floor OF the plate-room
Charlie, after that man had been there"
"Then we NAV say goodbye to Our Queen Anne
teaservice!" said my husband grinly, as the trail
| gave a warning whistle.
"This Is Marsham," said Mr.. Allardyce, letting
| down the window. 81 trust you will let me know
how you found things at home,' he added kindly, al
We got out We gave him n hurried farewell, ant
| dashed down the platform, where porter told III
| the London train was just going.
Wehad 2 fearful scramble, and quite out OF breath
were bundled into carriage at the very end OF thu
train, which was already moving. IL was third clas
and not over clean, but we were only too glad to &c
in at all
During the brief journey back Charlie told IN,
what he intended TO do, and as he did not think l
would be safe for me to go back 10 the house at first
aQreed-thOugh very unwillingly-to wait at
at Waterloo, and dashed homewards at great speed
At the police station nearest to our house Charl,
got ont. and after few minutes conversation Will
the inspector we resumed our way. Four cOnsta
bles, under the command of sergeant, were TO fol
low In cab Immediately. We got out at the end o
our road, which the policemen were also to do, 80 a
not to alarm any one who might he In our hous
with the sound. of wheels stopping at the door
Charlie left me at my friends house, and turne,
hack to meet the cab full of policemen which wa
just In sight, My friends house was nearly oppo
site our own, and, after hurried explanation
took my stand behind the curtains In the dining
room window to watch feeling quite sick with up
prehension In front of our house. hitched by tn
reins to the lamp-post, was small truck, drawn b.
spectacle tradesman, and that was the only eXterna
sign OF anything unusual.
/ saw Charlie and his company come down the
street. One policeman quietly descended into TIL
area, and stood there ready to arrest anybody WIN
attempted to escape that way; two remained o.
their boots, and Charlie nolselessy admitted himsel
and them with his latch-key.
l had watched for about twenty minutes in al
| agony OF dread, when saw the door open and m
husband came out. He was by my side almost i'm
mediately, and told me what had passed. Nobod
e anS bey ae a s en'
one was on the watch to give the alarm. But tn
plate-room was at the back OF the house, away iron
the road; and besides, we were supposed to he SAT
at lakewood by this time--where, hut for mos
fortunate accident, we should have been--and I'M
Allardyce" and his gang thought themselves per
fectly secure from interruption. Charlie and hi
party crept cautiously up the stairs, hearing voice
and laughter coming from above. On the frs
landing was wooden piano case, in which lngeniou
and innocent receptacle our plate was 10 DO packed
and PM on the truck which was waiting al the door
In this guisc 1t might safely he trusted TO eude tn
notice OF every policeman In London. The thieve
door was pushed open and they found themselve
surroundedb by the policemen with drawn truncheon
they were blank with amazement "Mr Allardyce
not in clerical costume this time--had opened IN
press with the false keys, which the wax mprei
siOnS he had taken enabled him to make. secon
man. the driver Of the truck at the door, was stand
ing by with chisel, and my sanity parlor-mail
laughing at the ruse which had been successful
praciced on her master and mistress, was helpin
the house-maid to roll up the plate In green BALI
bags.
'Mr. Allardyce" drew a revolver, but before
could be discharged he was STAINED by blow froI
the sergeant's trnncheon The others were quick
secured, and, escorted by the policemen, wei
driven OF to the nearest police court. to be charge
before the sitting magistrate. our plate was save,
ten minutes more and the thieves would have "
clear oil with their booty, and we should never hay
seen vestge Of 1t.
The consprators had c0ntrved TO send cook on q
errand which would detan her an hour or two, 500
after Charlie and left. The housemaid-who,
Will be remembered, came to me through Eliza-wa
In the plot, aud they thought themselves safe. IN