packed case, the man got his under the other, the box was rested on the tail of the cart, leising thrust in, the tail-board rattled up, pins and ch

nod of good-fellowship was exchanged, the nits were shaken, the horse flicked, and away it ratth. while P.C. Pipley slowly replaced his gloves.

he sighed accordingly. Ah! if some daring scoundrel would only dash a brick through one of those great panes of glass, and seize handfuls of the glorious jewels the rein! With what a feeling of ex-secured, the man climbed into the cart, a mun quisite de light he could bring down his truncheon upon the evildoer's arm, and make him drop the treasure, which would fly scintillating all over the pavement; and then, with the fellow's cuff tightly held, the jewels gathered and placed in his John Pipley's pocket, how he could proudly much the thief off, enter the charge, and deposit the culprit, like so much honey which he had, gathered, safely in a cell!

Ah, and court next day! Yes, he would shine there as the active and intelligent officer. The jewe ller would, of course, come down handsome, and it would be a step towards promotion. Yes, if Such an attempt were only made, and he was at hand to stay it! What a crack at the gang it would be if it were not a castle in the air.

P.C. Pipley beat his gloves together and sighed sighed deeply.

"I was on the look out when that last carriage robbery came off, and I'd almost go so far as to swear that I saw that roll of carpet perfectly safe, ten minutes before it was stolen. Though it couldn't have been site, or it wouldn't have been

taken. Ah! I shall have 'em yet."

Now then, Bobby, give's a lift with this here, there' a food 'un.”

John Pipley had been slowly approaching a great cheesemonger's shop, at one end of which stood a hhcart, with the tail board down, and an ordimary looking man was trying to lift a large firkin into the cut, its fellow being already there. Sand P.C. Pipley.

"Out an' out," said the man.

He

John Pipley was naturally good-natured. knew, too, the value of aid in a row: how often the Low was glad to appeal to a civilian for help in the capture of some ugly customer. So, without a moment's hesitation, he slipped off his gloves, seized one end of the little barrel, and with a swing it was sately deposited in the cart.

A little furder, old un," said the man; "now, then, both together. Another to come. A vigorous push sent the firkin right forward beside the other.

Now this here," said the man," and then there's the price of a pint," as he stepped up to an eggbox lying close under the cheesemonger's window. "All right," said John; "but just tell your people as it aint safe to leave these things out there's been a good many robberies about."

"Well, I told our foreman as it wasn't safe," said the man; but he called me a fool for my pains. Now, then."

John Pipley pocketed the twopence offered to him, got his fingers under one end of the straw

Luck's dead against me," he said-"del dead; but I'll have 'em yet. If some one wo only do something. If I'd had any luck at al I should have nobbled some one after them butte kegs. Heighho! nothing never falls in my way.

All through the afternoon, like a law-preserving and intelligent officer, did P.C. Pipley wander about his beat, longing to get a shot at some rasil or another; but everything was quieter than asadi, and the time for relief coming, P.C. Pipley retimit. to the station.

..

Another robbery on your beat this afterno Pipley," said the inspector. Strange thi Most mysterious! But it must be stopped. W. can't go on like this. I must put another m on."

"No, sir, don't, please; I'm down on 'em first chance," said Pipley; "but what is it this timeanother timepiece out of a carriage!" "No; a――

ני

Not a great-coat from a hall?" "No; a shop-door robbery."

"And I told 'em to be careful about them the rolls of carpet," said Pipley.

"I don't want to be harsh," said the inspetort " and I suppose you were watched out of the w A man can't be everywhere at once, nor yet be all eyes, as the ratepayers and the press seem to think."

What was it this time, sir!" said Pipley. "Oh, a very daring affair-butter firkins and g chests, just delivered from a railway van. Two firkins and a chest taken from the cheesemongo?s door directly after."

..

•Were they outside the shop, sir?" said Piply, rubbing his gloves softly together.

"Yes, outside at Chedderby's. The fellows st have had a cart. I'll put on a couple of pl.inclothes men, for this sort of thing must be stopped. The colonel will be furious."

"They're sharp uns, and no mistake,” said John Pipley, with a peculiar look of his eye; and then, being dismissed, he slowly returned to his lodgings, grinding his teeth, doubling his fists, and biting a bit of straw into the smallest possible fragments.

"It won't do to say how I've been sold." he muttered at last, as he sat down to the tea talle: "for I have been sold, and no mistake. Looked as innocent as a lamb, he did; and me not to see as he was the lamb of black sheep. And me, after eight years in the Force, not to have the gumption to take a note of the name upon the cart!"