From Eleven To Three.

Thoso thoughts AA'OI-O folloAving each other Avith croAA-ds of others , Avhen I jumped up as I remembered my ring . " On the drawing-room table , " tho doctor had said . I looked round tho room—thero Avore at least tAvclvo tables . I searched one , then another , until I had gone over them all , bnt found no ring .

Then I Avent over them again ; carefully picking up each thing . Still no ring did I find . As I stood Avondering Avhat could have become of it , I heard Williams come in , and going into the hall , Avithout mentioning my recent adventure , enquired how hc had found his mother . " Very ill , indeed , ma ' am , or I Avould not have stayed so long . I had to go for a doctor , I am vcry sorry to have been so late . "

I told him it Avas quite right ; and that he might go to bed after ho had put aAvay tho plate . I had hardly got back to the draAving-room , AA'hen he came after mc , saying , " Tho dining-room door is locked , ma'am , if yon haA-e tlio key will you kindly givo it to me . " I stared at tho man , " Locked ! the key ! " I ejaculated , " It is impossible , I AA-as in half an hour ago , and no ono can havo locked it since . " FolloAving Williams into the hall I tried thc door . Certainly it AA'as locked , most

unaccountable ! Just thon , I felfc something on tho mat at my feet , and stooping picked up a koy , and , putting it into tho look , it turned . Wondering IIOAV this could have happened , I Avalked into tho room , folloAved by Williams carrying a lamp . As

the light fell on the table I started back—thero Avas not a bit of silver on it ; my eyes Avent to the side-board , nothing there either . I Avas standing bcirildcrcd when I AA-as roused by Williams ' s voice , " Oh ! ma ' am , havo you put tho plate aAvay ? It AA-as all hero AA'hen 1 left . " "I haA-e touched nothing , " Avas all I could say .

Williams gasped out , " Oh ! AVO have been robbed . Then turning to gaze at the high old-fashioned AvindoAVS , " But IIOAV is it possible any ono could have got in . " The door of the conservatory Avas tho only ono I did not secure , and you Avero in thc draAving-room , ma'am , and must have seen any one como in . "

My thoughts AA-oro too confused to describe . To Williams question if I had heard any noise , I stammered "No , —Yes , none that Avould account for this . " Could any one have entered since my visitors bad left ?— No , I felt this could lAot be . I remembered barring the front door after them . The truth IIOAV began to daAvn on me , and AY ith it a IIOAV horror .

" My diamonds ! " I exclaimed . " Williams , come up and seo if they arc safe . " His bcAvilderment Avas extreme Avhen ho reached my room and saAV the confusion there . It certainly was a strange sight , nothing seemed left in its place but tho bod and tho ivardrobc ; the Avashstand AA-as cleared of everything , the Avare lying broken on tho carpet ; tho chairs AA * cro piled on top of each other , and tho dressing table turned right over .

As Williams did his best to put things to rights , I told him Avhat had happened , and together AVC searched every likely and unlikely place in the room . But , alas , my diamonds were gone as Avell as aU my jewellery . Reluctantly , I realized that I had not only been robbed but duped as well . And yet , oven AVIIOII I kncAV it must bo so , I could not believe that I had entertained burglars and not inmates of au asylum . Williams Avent doAvn to lind out the extent of tho loss of the plate , Avhich turned out to be almost total . The p late chest had been broken into—everything AA-US gone .

I sat still in my room going over Avhat had taken place , IIOAV , Avith Avhat different feelings to thoso of half an hour ago . What a fool I had been . So easily dnped ! and only open to flattery Avhen 1 had thought myself superior to Avomanly nerves . These reflections gavo mo keener pain , I think , than tho loss of tho joAvellory . Then tho mad Avoman— " Was she really a Avoman , nnd could that iplausiUlc doctor be a thief ? "

I felt thoro Avas nothing to bo done , and sat there in a state of dazed misery for I scarcely knoiv IIOAV long , Avhen , stooping , 1 almost unconsciously picked up a dirty piece of paper , and mechanically began to straighten it . What AA * as this Avritten in blurred pencil ? I took it to tho light , and made out tho Avords , " Meet .... Cross of Four Roads at 3 My Avits returned to mc . Thc thieves had evidently dropped tho paper . It Avas just possible that to-night ivas meant . My energy returned with tlie prospect

From Eleven To Three.

of something to do , oven if ifc AA-OI-O futile . I looked at my Avatch . Was thero timo ? It AA-as quarter to tAvo . I ran doAvnstairs and told Williams to harness tho fast grey in the dog-cart , adding I thought I had a clue to tho thioA-es ; and in a feAv minntes AVO Avere Hying along tbo road . I had arranged that AVC should drive to tho houso of the nearest magistrate ,

Colonel Hicks , Avhich Avas about four miles off . I remembered hearing him say ho Avas not going to the ball as he had an old friend spending the evening . I Avas shivering Avith excitement as AVO drove along . Could AVO be there in time ? Wo had to go back four miles and drive four moro before Ave reached tho thieves ' meeting place .

As AA-O arrived at Colonel Hicks ' , I looked afc my Avatch for I should think the tenth timo on our drive ; tho night had cleared and tho moon Avas IIOAV bright . It Avas t Avcnty past IAVO . Fortunately AVO had not long to Avait , aud in a f CAV minutes I had explained as much as Avas necessary , and Colonel Hicks and Captain

Meredith ( his friend ) had joined mo in tho dog-cart . They had bogged me to remain behind , but I preferred seeing the end of thc adventures of tho ni ght . I had recovered from my depression and ii-as braced up and my nerves strung to the uttermost . I knew I could trust Colonel Hicks in an emergency . Tho question UOAV Avas should AVO bo in time , and should Ave catch the thieves .

A feAv minutes before three Ave arrived ; tho throe men loft tho dog-cart , I , having arranged to remain in it and hold tho reins . I droA-o down ono of tho roads , waiting for tho result of the next half hour Avith a mind full of hopes and fears . What took place thon I heard aftenvards . Aftor Avaiting a feAv minutes , thoy saAV a man coining toAA-ards them—they Avero in tho shadoAV—evidently ho did not

see thorn . Wheels ivero heard approaching and a trap stopped opposite thoir hiding place ; only one man Avas in it . As he gave a IOAV Avhistle , tho other lignro they had seen camo toAvards tho trap , but before ho could reach it , Captain Meredith had sprung I ' onvard , and Avith one bloiv so surprised and stunned the man , that ho had no difficulty in slipping on a pair of handcuffs , Avhich ho had taken tho precaution to bring Avith him .

Almost simultaneously Williams caught the horse ' s head , A \ -hilc Colonel Hicks seized tbe driver . AU Avas dono so quickly that ho iiOA-er scorned to recover until his confederate had been lifted in , and , Avith Colonel Hicks and his friend , driven off .

Then ho began to bluster , asking Avhat could bo meant by behaving in such a Avay to a gentleman driving on his OAVU business . When ho Avas convinced that everything Avas kuoAvn , he changed his tactics , aud promised to tell AVhere everything AVUS if they Avould only let him off . Needless to say , no notice Avas taken of his proposal , and , as thoy surmised , tho stolen goods Avero in tho trap .

Williams had joined me , and I reached home just before tho others returned from tho ball . I need not describe their consternation on hearing my evening ' s nd \ 'ontnrpfi .

The rest is soon told . My pretended doctor aud his accomplices wero all tried at the next assizes . I had to appear as witness , and oven ivhen I saiv tho real Dr . Armstrong aud the protended together , tho likeness Avas remarkable . They had been in the neighbourhood for some days , and had found cut all about my plate ami diamonds , 'f hoy kueii' some of the servants had gone out

bnt not that 1 Avas alone in tho honse . Thoy had Avatched tho guests go to tho ball , nnd seeing I AVUS not amongst thorn , laid their plans accordingly . HOAV such people find things out , it is hard to tell , I had no reason eA-erto suppose any of my sei-Aiints were implicated . The pretended mad lvointui wns a man Avho had been a keeper iu a lunatic asylum—these circumstances suggested their IIOA-CI mode of robbery .

It AA-as a long time before I recovered from the shock my nerves received that night . I havo not hoard of any of the gang since . They wero transported for ten years . My valuables I generally IIOAV keep in the bank ; but IIOA-CIsinco haA'e I eared to bo left alone in the house . So ends the story of that ldvonturous night of tiventy years ago , Avhich I can still recall Avith perfect ¦ leuruess as though it had happened but yesterday . HAR HULK .

Ad02602

Royal Hospital for Diseases EC of the Chest , CITY ROAD , .. Patron—HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . President—TEE RT . HON . LORD CHARLES BRUCE . Funds are urgently needed to meet Current Expenses . ANNUAL EXPENDITURE ... £ 4500 [ ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION ... £ 1500 LEAVING ANNUAL DEFICIT OF £ 3000 . 30 Beds now Lying Idle for Want of Funds . DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS WILL BE THANKFULLY RECEIVED BY JOHN HARROLD , Secretary .