"Dovercourt" is the name of a large estate in Surrey, and, in the midst of its beautiful park stands the old house, the residence of Sir George Warren, the head of one of the oldest families in the county.

       One evening at the end of the autumn, when the days were short and the nights were dark and long, Dovercourt was filled with visitors, and a grand ball was given to celebrate the engagement of Sir George's only daughter, Maud, to Captain Fred Leslie, R. N.

       Some of the guests had been staying in the house several days, some had only arrived during the afternoon; all were to be accommodated for the night after the conclusion of the festivities. Congratulations, dancing, mirth, and laughter, were the order of the hour.

       "I'm not going to bed yet. Will some of you fellows come to my room and have a smoke?" asked Captain Leslie, as the ball was breaking up and the ladies were retiring, to dream of exquisite waltzes and sweet tete-a-tetes in dimly lighted conservatories.

       So when the rest of the house was wrapped in slumber, with the exception of some of the younger ladies, who lay awake in the dark comparing notes and chattering girlish nonsense about their partners of the evening, about a dozen gentlemen were gathered in Captain Leslie's bedroom, smoking, joking, and playing "nap."

       Maud Warren had been the reigning beauty of the past London season, in the circle in which her family moved, and had made many conquests in the ranks of fashionable society. Yet she was still young to the world, and everything in high life was fresh and delightful to her.

       Although all the triumphal pleasure of conquest, the incense of daily and nightly worshippers, and all the advantages of a pleasing beauty had been at her command, they had not one whit affected her genuine open-hearted nature, and when Fred Leslie had presumed to tender his suit, albeit he was only an officer in Her Majesty's navy, with a small private income in addition to his meagre pay, she, with a woman's inconsistency, preferred the honest, devoted love of her sailor boy, as she called him, to the titled honours that were at her command.

       On the night of her father's ball, worn out with pleasurable excitement, she lay awake on her bed, a whirl of strange sensations rushing tumultuously through her happy, girlish brain.

       In an ecstasy of bewildered delight she recalled the covert and open compliments which had been showered so freely upon her, the many tender glances and general attention which she knew were not common courtesies that fall to the lot of every girl, especially one who is "engaged;" and her thoughts dwelt with especial tenderness on the one more favoured than all the others, who, under the same roof, was perchance also thinking of her at that moment.

       Suddenly she thought she heard a noise like the handle of her door being gently turned, but it was locked. Then as she lay silent and fear-stricken, she heard an instrument being gently inserted in the lock, and the key turned from outside; and as she lay there, speechless with terror, but her eyes strained towards the door which in the pitchy darkness she could not see, it slowly opened and a sound followed, as of some one creeping into the room.

       Then Maud found her voice, and a mighty shriek echoed throughout the house, causing its inmates to start in terror from their beds. She heard the creeping figure rush back through the doorway and down the stairs; then for a moment a deathly silence reigned.

       Doors opened. Her father, and her lover, accompanied by several gentlemen, came out upon the landing in the dark, wondering what had caused such a disturbance.

       "There's a robber in the house! Run down the stairs!" shrieked Maud hysterically, closing her door.

       Instantly grasping the situation, Sir George Warren sprang down the stairs, followed by Captain Leslie and the others. The dining room window was wide open, and a short rope ladder dangled to the ground.

       "Has anything been stolen?" asked Sir George anxiously, gazing round at the half bewildered faces of his guests in the light of a candle.

       Feminine voices answered from above:

       "My door is open!" . . . . "I have been robbed!" . . . . "My jewel case is open!" . . . . "My jewels are stolen!"

       "Put out the light!" cried Captain Leslie promptly. "Will some of you gentlemen help me to scour the grounds? We may catch the thief before he gets away."

       Before the last words had left his lips he had sprung out of the window and slipped nimbly down the rope ladder, closely followed by Sir George and the other gentlemen.

       "If we are prompt in surrounding the grounds," whispered the baronet, "we may catch the fellow before he gets out of the park. Don't show any lights to let him know our whereabouts. This way!"

       Silently they ran along the grass, Sir George leading, until they reached the nearest of the park gates, and, then dispersed, proceeded to surround the walls. The darkness was so intense that no one could see his hand before him, but the stillness of the night was so great that if any person were within ten yards of another his breathing could be heard distinctly.

       In a few minutes a shout came from a corner of the park, and all hastened to the spot whence it proceeded. Two men were struggling on the ground and all comers entered into the contest, being guided by sounds only, and one clutching another, not knowing whether he held a friend or foe. They therefore grasped each other with all their strength until a light was brought. Then it was discovered that, two of the guests held in their embrace a ruffianly looking man, who struggled violently and uttered various oaths and entreaties to be freed.

       "Lemme go, gents. I ain't done nothing," he whined, when the light was thrown on his face.

       "Search him," said Sir George, as he arrived on the scene.

       The ruffian's hands and legs were quickly tied with handkerchiefs, and he was searched.

       A dark lantern, a knife and several burglarious looking implements were found in his pockets including an instrument like a pair of ladies' curling tongs with hollow points, which, if inserted in a lock, would grasp the key and turn it from outside the door. But nothing else was found concealed upon him.

       "Where is the jewellery you have stolen?" asked the gentleman who had first grappled with him.

       "I dunno no nothin' about no julery. I ain't stolen nothing," muttered the man sullenly.

       "Then what were you doing here?"

       "Waitin' for someone. Lemme go."

       Just then one of the guests, attracted by the light, hastened to join the party. He informed them that he had stumbled against a cart and horse standing close under the wall in a lane, but no driver or owner was near.

       The prisoner confessed that the cart was his property, but would vouchsafe no further information; so he was bundled into it and carried up to the house, where he was carefully secured until the police could be communicated with.

       A consultation was held in the dining-room, where all the household were by that time assembled; and it was then confirmed that almost every bedroom door was opened, and all the jewellery which the ladies had worn on the previous evening had been stolen.

       Without any doubts that the prisoner had committed the robbery, they concluded that he had made a parcel of the jewellery, and, knowing that he was being pursued, had concealed it in some hiding-place in the park, so that, if caught, nothing would be found upon him and there could not be sufficient evidence to secure his conviction.

       Sir George, as host, was deeply concerned that such a calamity had befallen his guests while under the protection of his roof, and expressed his deep regret as each lady unfolded the tale of her losses.

       It was estimated that several thousand pounds' worth of jewellery had been stolen, and altogether it would form a somewhat bulky parcel, difficult to hide.

       No one went to bed again that night, and at daybreak parties of guests went out to search the grounds. Every hollow tree was searched, every bush closely inspected, every nook and cranny was investigated, but no sign of the lost property could be discovered.

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CHAPTER II.

       The prisoner was a rough, strongly-built labouring man, of a sullen and taciturn disposition, and preserved a dogged silence when any questions were asked. Later on in the day he was examined by the local magistrate, and in answer to the charge against him pleaded "not guilty."

       He gave his name as William Jackson, of no occupation, and was unable to satisfactorily account for his presence inside the park walls at three o'clock in the morning. He did not deny that the pony and cart, and the house-breaking implements found upon him, were his property, but he steadfastly denied that he had committed the robbery.

       He did not deny that the pony and cart and the housebreaking implements found upon him were his property, but he steadfastly denied that he had committed the robbery.

       It was not until the magistrate, weary of questioning the man to no purpose had threatened to commit him to prison, that any information was elicited from the prisoner. Then, finding that the evidence against him was sufficient to cause his detention, he requested to be allowed to make a statement. On permission being granted he drew himself up and said —

       "Yer honour, I ain't one to round on a pal without cause, but it seems to me as I've been sold. I didn't commit de robbery, as you accuse me, but I knows who did. My pal, Jim Mathers, wot lives in the cottage by Bleak Hill come to me last night and said as how he'd got a lay which he'd share with me if I would lend a 'and. He said as how there was to be a party at Dovercourt, and after the visitors had retired to their little cots, bein' tired with dancing they would sleep soundly, and then would be a good time to see wot sort of jewellery they had been a-wearing, so I got my tools together and we went to the park and lay low until we saw the lights go out; then Jim he says to me, 'You bide here and mind the cart while I inwestigates, and when I come back we'll share equal.' But when he'd been gone about an hour thinks I 'he ought to be back fore long. I'll just go and see what he's a-doin'. So I got over the wall werry quiet, and was walking t'ward the 'ouse, when summun knocked me down. And it looks to me, gents, as if Jim Mathers has slipped off with the swag, and left his pal to face the consequences, for if he'd meant to do the honourable he'd have communicated with me even after I was nabbed."

       Then the prisoner leaned his arm on the dock rail, to signify that his speech for the defence was finished.

       "The veracity of this statement must be ascertained," observed the magistrate. "If it is true we have been wasting valuable time."

       Then turning to the prisoner,

       "If, as you say, this Jim Mathers has slipped off to avoid sharing the stolen property with you, why do you think he drew you into the affair at all?"

       "I dunno. I dunnot understand it," replied the prisoner.

       The magistrate pondered over the evidence for a few minutes, and at last seemed to arrive at a definite conclusion.

       "I don't believe a word of the tale you have trumped up to try and divert suspicion from yourself," he said, sternly. "If you do not at once confess where you have hidden the jewellery, I shall commit you to prison."

       "I tell yer I don't know where it is. There ain't no justice in England for a poor man," murmured Mr. Jackson.

       He was therefore remanded, and enquiries ordered to be made concerning the authenticity of his story and the whereabouts of Mr. Jim Mathers.

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CHAPTER III.

       With marvellous promptitude which characterises the English police, within an hour afterwards, when on enquiry Jim Mathers was found to be absent from his house, a detailed description was telegraphed to every police station for many miles around, and also to all the seaports.

       The local constables were closely questioned with a view to ascertaining if any person, answering to the description given, had been seen in the neighbourhood on the night of the robbery. But notwithstanding all their efforts no clue was obtained, no one had seen any suspicious looking characters about, nor had Jim Mathers been seen since the afternoon of that day.

       There were still many who clung to the original idea that the prisoner had committed the robbery, and having hidden the jewellery somewhere in the park, had trumped up a story to shield himself or lighten his sentence, and on finishing his term of imprisonment he would enjoy himself on the proceeds.

       To some people the fact of his sudden disappearance seemed rather suspicious, but there was still many who clung to the original idea that the prisoner had committed the robbery, and, having hidden the jewellery somewhere in the park, had trumped up a story to shield himself or lighten his sentence; and, on finishing his term of imprisonment, he would enjoy himself on the proceeds. Among the latter were Captain Leslie and Maud, and somehow they found a delightful occupation in the joint inspection of clumps of trees and bushes, and probing of rabbit holes. But they searched in vain together for any clue to justify the opinion they had formed, and when toward the end of the afternoon they rested their labours in a rustic arbour, their united efforts had been fruitless.

       "I did enjoy the dance so much last night," she murmured. "It was a shame to spoil the whole thing by this horrid robbery.

       I thought you seemed to be enjoying youself, dear, and you had good reason," he replied with a sly twinkle in his eyes.

       "What do you mean, Fred?"

       "It must be very nice to be constantly surrounded by admirers, and receive throughout the whole evening their dutiful homage."

       "I did not say or do anything that I should not have done, did I? I thought I behaved very well indeed."

       "No, indeed, dear. I thought you were charming all the evening. Only I was a wee bit jealous that you should be so universally adored. You seemed so happy that I was almost forgotten."

       "Fred, I have an idea!" she cried, suddenly jumping up.

       "You startle me. What is it?"

       "I know where we shall find the stolen jewellery. Come with me."

       He followed her obediently up the grounds to the window of the dining-room from whence the thief was believed to have escaped.

       "Now look here, Fred, this is my idea. If a straight line were drawn from the window to the place where the burglar was secured, the parcel of jewellery would be found near that line."

       "Why?" he asked.

       "Because," she argued, "the thief having been disturbed in his operations, and knowing that he was pursued, would have hastened in a straight line to his cart, and the time that elapsed before he was caught was too short to allow him to have deviated from his course to any great extent. He must have deposited it hastily during his flight."

       "But we have searched all the park, and haven't found it."

       "You wait a minute, there's a dear boy. Now take me straight from here to the place where you caught the man."

       He took her hand and they crossed a closely mown lawn, which sloped gradually down to a clump of trees and bushes.

       "All this part has been carefully searched," he observed drily.

       "Very well. We won't stop here."

       They passed through the trees and came upon another lawn sloping down to a lake with a steep bank.

       At the edge Maud stopped for a moment.

       "To proceed we must go out of our straight line and walk round part of this lake. How deep should you think the water is here?"

       "About six feet."

       "Well, knowing that we are pursued, and being heavily laden with stolen property which we wish to hide, we hastily drop our parcel in the water, being careful to select a spot which we can find again. Which spot would you choose?"

       "It was too dark to make a careful selection," observed Leslie.

       "True, but we are dealing with a man who knew the locality well, as is evidenced by the fact that he did not keep to the pathway, but cut across the grass. Our burglar knew his way about here, you may depend. Where is the water deepest and most likely to hide anything?"

       Leslie pointed with his finger. His nautical eye saw at a glance where the water lay deepest.

       "That is exactly the part of the lake which we reach first on coming from the house," she cried excitedly. "See! There are fir trees growing on the bank, and a willow overhangs the water, making its depths dark and impenetrable."

       "Bravo, little girl," exclaimed her lover, as the idea began to dawn on him. "Then we will get some good strong hooks and a stout line and fish up the parcel, which our prisoner deposited in his flight."

       Three hooks were soon procured, and bound together to form a small drag, and this grappling iron was then attached to the end of a piece of cord.

       The news soon spread throughout the house that the lake was to be dragged, and a small crowd collected on the banks. Standing under the willow, Captain Leslie threw the line out into the water, then began to draw it back again. It came in easily at first, and then would come no more. The hooks had evidently caught in the stumps or roots of a tree, or had become entangled in the weeds which abounded in great quantities. So he had to carry the line to the other bank, and draw it backwards to release it. At last, after manœuvring for some time, he managed to drag it in, but the grappling iron only brought up a quantity of weeds and roots.

       "You must take the punt, and drop the line straight down at short intervals," observed Sir George. "You will only break it if you try to drag it through the weeds."

       So Captain Leslie got into the punt, and by moving gently around, and dropping the hooks down here and there, managed to fish up a considerable quantity of rubbish from the bottom of the lake.

       This was very disappointing, and the eager watchers on the bank began to make small jokes at his expense. Suddenly the line went down a considerable length, evidently into a hole or well, and then stopped. Captain Leslie began to draw it in. At first it came up slack, then gradually tightened and stopped.

       "He'll get it this time, if he ever has it," said a voice on the bank.

       Leslie, annoyed by the remark, tightened the line and gave a good steady pull.

       "Now he's got it!" . . . "It's a portmanteau!" . . . "No, it's a carpet bag!" cried the people on the shore.

       It gradually grew nearer and nearer to the surface, but it was a very heavy pull, almost as much as the line would bear. Yes! there it slowly came. A little more line was drawn in, and there appeared above the water the livid hand of a dead man!

       With an ejaculation Captain Leslie dropped the line, and the hand slowly sunk down again out of sight.

       More ropes were speedily procured, and they drew the dead body out of the lake. It was that of Jim Mathers, the missing poacher, and still clutched tightly in his arms, he held a bundle tied in a strong red handkerchief, which, being opened, disclosed the stolen jewellery.

       In his haste to escape front his pursuers, he had run straight to the lake, stepped off the steep bank in the dark into the deep still waters, where his struggles to rise entangled him among the strong fibrous weeds, so that he was drowned.

       Maud Warren is now Mrs. Leslie, and several years have passed over their heads, but they will not easily forget the tragic events which followed the ball at "Dovercourt."

(THE END)