CHAPTER VIII.

DETECTION AND ARREST.

THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor. The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond. She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.

"I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came. I remember I hid them in with the butter, and you said you'd have to lump it over."

"I lost them then. I never saw them."

"I guess 'twouldn't take me long to find them!" was the angry retort. "If you don't pay up handsome, as you promised, I'll confiss, and have you put in jail."

"You daren't do it; you're too deep in for that."

The old lady peered through the crack behind the door, trying to get a view of the speaker, but she could not, as he was standing outside the window in the side passage.

"I will, I will! You've had more of the profits than we have. Tom and I both agreed upon that. Feth, a good business you've made of it these six months."

"Not more than you have. It's for our interest to keep friendly," said the man, in a soothing tone. "Have you got anything for me to-day? If it's my mistake about the spoons, I'll make it up, of course. Where's Ann's bundle?"

"It's like a man of sinse, ye're talking now. Ann is packing some finery of my lady's; and sure she's long about it. Give me the basket, and I'll fill it while yer waiting. We must make the most of it; for Tom says they're breaking up intirely, and we'll have to quit. Feth, and I'm not sorry either; we couldn't go on much longer without those detective gintlemen paying us a visit. I know 'em."

Cook now occupied herself with packing into the basket sundry articles such as she had prepared for the occasion. Rich frosted cake was taken from the drawer,—the woman's dress almost touching Aunt Mercy's as she passed in and out of the pantry,—sugar, tea, coffee, napkins, towels, two shirts of Mr. Everett's hanging on a clothes-frame; a large platter of butter was brought forward. But the basket was already so full the man promised to come again at night for it; and cook, laughing, said, "I'll find something more against that time."

Mrs. Lovell in her retreat now began to be anxious for the arrival of the police. She had seen through the front window Mr. Dix run up the steps, and go away again, walking off at a rapid pace; and she knew that they might be momentarily expected. Up-stairs, all was perfectly quiet; and she hoped it would remain so for the present; for in case Ann made her appearance in the kitchen, she would be discovered. Cook would give the alarm, and the man outside take his flight.

In the pantry she heard the sound of silver coin; and presently cook, in some indignation, exclaimed,—

"It's too little. Why, the shirts alone is worth all this!"

"But just think of my risk," he remonstrated.

"Give 'em back then! I wont be risking my soul to save ye for such a trifle. Feth, it wouldn't pay the praist for confissing me. Give 'em back! I'd no idea of yer maneness. It's absolute chating, it is."

To expedite his departure, the man had left the gate through which he entered ajar. He saw an officer walking slowly past, gazing up toward the house, and, much to the surprise of cook, with one bound, sprang through the window, basket and all. Greatly to Mrs. Lovell's relief, at this moment she saw a man in the dress of a police officer, walk deliberately up the front-stops, his companion stationing himself outside the gate.

"Howly Mary, help me!" shrieked the guilty cook, as she caught a glimpse of Aunt Mercy, who was hastily crossing the kitchen to report to her nephew, and have the man arrested. "Wait till ye hear me confiss. It's the rogue of a Tom who stole these things and was disposing of 'em to this rascal. I'll confiss everything, and bless you as long as I live."

"You shall have a chance to confess," answered Mrs. Lovell, "but it must be in the presence of Mr. Everett and the officers above stairs."

A perfect howl of rage came from the man in the pantry, while cook began to cry aloud,—

"It's all your doings tempting me, when I had a dacent character."

Mr. Everett was talking earnestly in the hall when his aunt made her appearance, pale with excitement, and told him what she had seen. The officer nodded complacently. It was plain he liked the job. Walking to the door, he sprung his rattle, and presently half a dozen men in blue coats and brass buttons obeyed the call. To one of these he committed the arrest of the man below, while he told the others to be on hand in case any assistance was needed.

In the mean time, poor Lily sat trembling on the stairs, wondering what Lawrence was doing with the stranger, and why Mr. Dix did not go into the parlor instead of standing in the hall.

Making a sign of caution, Aunt Mercy went past her on to the chamber already described, where Ann stood with an armful of clothes as usual, waiting for the way to be cleared, so that she could convey them to the kitchen. Wondering whether it would be best to call Lily and examine the jewel-casket, the old lady stood a moment just before Ann, who nervously strove to conceal something by covering an embroidered wrapper over it.

"What have you there?" she asked, thrown off her guard by catching a glimpse of silver.

"Nothing but what belongs to me!" was the angry retort.

"Let me see."

She threw back the wrapper and discovered an elaborately-chased bouquet-holder, which the artful girl was carrying to her trunk.

"Mrs. Everett gave it to me! It's mine!" she screamed, forgetting for a moment that her master was below.

Lily, hearing her name mentioned, came running in. Her cheeks were a bright crimson, and her eyes had such a frightened stare that the old lady determined at whatever cost to prevent farther excitement.

"You had better go to your room and put away your things," she said to Ann, in a tone as calm as if nothing had occurred. "I will get your mistress' hat; she is going out for a walk."

The girl gladly left the room, though she wondered not a little at being allowed to do so, when Mrs. Lovell urged her niece to go to her mother's until the dishonest servants were out of the house.

Mr. Everett, for the first time in his life, was pleased to have her leave him, as he dreaded the coming scene for her sake. As soon as she had gone, he went into the kitchen accompanied by Mr. Dix and an officer, and sending for Ann and Tom, told them they had been detected in stealing from him, and he should give them up at once to the officers. The basket, packed to its utmost capacity, was brought in, and Aunt Mercy was witness that the man who was in league with them had implicated all the three. Cook shrieked and offered to confess, while Ann tried to escape, and would have done so, but for the officer still at the gate, who brought her back, saying,—

"No, no, you are too old for that. I think I've seen you before, my lovely jail-bird."

Tom sat sullenly scowling at Aunt Mercy, believing her to be the one who had brought this trouble upon them,—the only one in the family, as he had often boasted to his companions, who had any sense. Mr. Everett then ordered Tom to accompany them to his room while they examined his trunk, but this he doggedly refused; nor would he give up the key until loudly threatened with handcuffs by the officer.

I need not go into detail. In Tom's trunk, as well as in the cook's, were found stolen garments, silver, and other things too numerous to mention, while Ann's was a sight to behold. There was nothing too rare or costly in her mistress' establishment for her to lay her hands on. Wrought pocket-handkerchiefs, fine as a spider's web, laces, ornaments, ribbons, underclothes, two flounced dresses, books, etc., etc., etc., were found rolled in her own coarse garments, and carefully hidden under her common dresses.

Aunt Mercy stood with her hands uplifted in horror, while Ann burst into a louder cry at every fresh discovery. At last, she shrieked in a rage,—

"It's yerself as is to blame for it all. I was an honest girl till I came here, where everything was open to my hand; and even after yees knew that yer old aunt suspected us, ye bid us never to spake of laving."

"Don't you believe it, Mr. Everett," said the officer, shrugging his shoulders. "She's been caged before."

But he did believe it, and regretted, then and afterwards, that he had sinned in placing temptation in their way. And he resolved, then and there, whenever he had servants, to watch over them and labor for their good. He was intensely relieved when the house was rid of the wicked creatures, and he could have an hour or two before summoned to court to appear against the grocer, Nolan, who had carried on so successful a business with them. On the trial, it appeared so plain that this man had been an accomplice from the beginning that his whole bill was forfeited, and Mr. Everett finally recovered from Nolan between three and four hundred dollars for provisions, besides table-linen, napkins, and silver.

It was not until a late hour that Mr. Everett was at liberty to go for Lily, who was with her mother. The articles taken from the servants' trunks, and rescued from the clutches of Nolan, lay on the hall table and scattered about the back-parlor. Mr. Everett calmly explained what had happened to the astonished listener, taking the opportunity to explain the duty of master and mistress to their servants, which, he said, he was too conscious of having neglected.

"And where are they? What will become of them?" murmured poor Lily, with blanched cheeks.

"Safe in jail, my dear, where they await their trial."

She gave a cry of horror, and trembled so excessively that they saw the wisdom of having her away during the excitement. Aunt Mercy persuaded her to retire at once, which she did, after wondering how they could get along without breakfast.

"I'll send to the intelligence office the first thing," said Mr. Everett.

"And have the same scene over again," rejoined Aunt Mercy. "No, I'll go myself. 'Tisn't the first time I've been in search of servants. I flatter myself I can tell an honest girl."

The next morning Lily made her appearance just as her husband was pouring a cup of coffee of his aunt's manufacturing to carry to her chamber. She was full of wonder at the idea of breakfast being ready. And when she tasted the delicious waffles, in which delicacy Mrs. Lovell prided herself that she excelled in, declared that nothing had ever tasted so good.