The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-11
THE DAILY STAR.
WHO TOOK IT?

-~--N-~---NN'
meanW
l settled myself down to an explana-
ton. Explanations are things l hate,
nevertheless they are necessary some
times. One was due on this occasion.
"You know, my dear MarianT | be-
gan, with business-like air, that the
failure of Hardinge Brothers threw scores
Of men, women and children in this
neighborhood out of work, in the very
hardest part of very bad year. This
evening a meeting was held with view
to enlisting the sympathy Of the public,
A subscription list WAS got up, and col
lection was made then and there to the
tune of e20. As nothing else could be
done with the money tonight, was, as
treasurer, obliged to bring it home; and
very nervous | felt, | can assure you, at
coming along these lonely roads with
such a sum. However, reached home
safely in spite of my fears, and now |
will deliver it over to you until can get
rid of it."
"And so free your mind from all re-
sponsibilty," added my wife with a
smile. She knows that one Of my chief
weaknesses is a dread of responsibility.
"As far as possible" replied.
We went Immediately into a consulta-
tiOn as to where the money should be put.
suggested the meat-safe as place to
which thieves would never dream of 90
ing for money, but my wife pooh-poohed
the idea, as well as several other sugges-
tions of mine, which | thought were not
go bad. At last an idea struck her in the
shape of the wine-drawer in the cupboard
of the side-board. By this means the
money could be doubly safe, she argued,
for the drawer might first be locked in
addition to locking the door. | looked
rather contemptuously on the plan, for,
if the truth be told, | felt it was only due
to myself to do 50, since my wife treated
every suggestion Of mine in similar
manner.
Both of us failing to hit upon anything
better, the wine-bin was agreed upon;
and, as | looked over my evening paper,
watched her place the black japanned
box in the drawer, lock it. lock the side
board and place the key in her own
purse.
"ThereW she exclaimed, triumphantly
al shouldn't think any one would get at
that before tomorrow morning, for this
purse goes into the we'll of my dressing
case tonight, and that will be locked
and the keys put away i'll my dressing
table drawer, so we are doubly and trebly
secure"
In spite of these precautions there was
load on my mind, that | felt would on
ly be removed when the money was safe
in the bank. | envied my wife her hap
py nsensibiity, for in less than half an
hour she was quietly sleeping, while |
tossed restlessly to and fro, thinking about
the money, and wondering whether any
one could get at it. At last a grand idea
struck me- which was to put it inside the
piano. Who would dream of searching
for treasure in such place? whereas.
what robber coming into house would
not 90 to sideboard? and the very fact
of finding it doubly locked would make
him suspect something was hidden there.
Plainly enough Mistress Marian, with all
her cleverness, had chosen the very worst
place possible. Should | 90 down and
remove it? / knew where the keys were
to be found. | had half mind to do 50,
if only for the sake of quieting my fears
and getting little sleep. No doubt |
should have done so, had not circum-
stance intervened--I fell asleep.
1t seemed scarcely AMI lqiBr afterwards
that awoke and heard sounds of life in
the street below. Well, so far all was
safe enough; no robbers had molested
us, and felt so comfortable and easy
now that all danger was over that | be-
gan to laugh at my nervous fears. How
stupid it would have been to have gone
down stairs in the middle of such a bit
ter night! Thank goodness | had been
too strong-minded for that. | fell off
into another doze and as natural conse-
quence was late for breakfast. That meal
was a hurried one, and when it was over
and had my coat and hat on, ready to
start off to an important case, remind
cd Marian of the money, and begged her
to get it out quickly.
3I had quite forgotten it," she ex-
claimed. "Hcre Martha, run upstairs
and fetch me my purse out of my dress
ing case; the keys are in my dressing
table drawer"
Martha flew upstairs to do her mis-
tress' bidding, while | stood and chafed
in the hall, and submitted to have my
coat brushed. In a moment she returned,
bringing the purse, and Marian ran into
the dining-room. Two or three minutes
passed, and Marian was still fumbling at
the side-board I entered the room
impatiently. Marian looked at me
closely.
"This is quite too bad, Harold. What
have you done with the boxw
"Done with the boxv' exclaimed;
what do you mean, Marianw
81 won't stand this trihing any longer"
Eeplied my wife. '1t's a shame to give
me the responsibility of that money and
then tease me like this"
"What on earth is the woman talking
aboutp' / cried, bewildered. "Siy what
you mean in plain words, beg"
"The moneys not herel It's gone, box
and all" Marian replied, with white
face.
"Gonew I cried, "gonel Where's it