Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-07-25

" | had quite forgotten it," she ex-
claimed. "Here, Martha, run up stairs
and fetch my purse cut of my dress
ing-case; the keys are in my dressing
table drawer"
Martha flew up stairs to do her mis-
tress' bidding, while stood and chafed
in the hall and submitted to having my
coat brushed. In namoment she returned,
bringing the purse, and Marian ran into
the dining-room. Two or three minutes
passed, and Marian was still fumbling
about at the sideboard. | entered the
room impatiently. Marian looked at me
Grossly.
"This is quite too bad, Harold. What
have you done with the boxP"
"Done with the boxr' l exclaimed;
"what do you mean, Marianp"
81 won't stand this trifing any
longer, replied my wife. :" It's shame
to give me the responsibility of that
money and then tease me ika this."
What on earth is the woman talk
ing aboutP" cried, bewildered. Say
what you mean in plain words, Reg"
"The moneys not here. It's gone,
box and ALL" Marian replied, with a
white face.
"Gone!" I cried, "Gone! Where's
it gone, how's it gone, or who has taken
it, / should like to knowP You must be
raving. Let me come and look"
Marian moved aside and l knelt down
to the drawer. No sign of a box was
there. AS my wife had said, the money
was gone.
Buthow, when, or whereP The drawer
was locked, the cupboard was locked,
the dressing case was locked, the purse
was inside it, the keys in the dressing
table drawer. These things my wife
and Martha were sure of. A man placed
in such a position is bound to have an
idea on the subject and to assert it, so |
suggested that Martha must be the cul-
prit.
"No, no, don't say that" cried my
wife, excitedly. I'D as soon believe
that | was the thief as she. I've known
her all my life No, no, it isn't Martha"
"You talk like a child" | replied,
with an air of superiority, for really
women have no reasoning powers what
ever-not even the best of them. "Can
you suggest any one else who by any
possibility could have taken the money!"
"Indeed | cannot" Marian replied.
at could not be a house breaker, for the
locks were just as | left them; nothing
had been touched apparently"
"You admit that it could not be any
one outside the house, so it must be Mar
tina, that is plain logic" said, with as
much evenness of temper as | could
command at the moment.
"It isn't Martha" replied my wife,
stubbornly; "I'll never believe it. "
For my part, / felt sure that it was
Martha. And as it was quite impossible
that she could have got rid of it yet, |
hoped | should easily discover it.
But she denied the charge so emphati-
cally that it was with a very anxious
heart betook myself to the bedside
OF my patient. The case was % compli.
Gated and peculiar one, and my mind
soon became so interested in the pro-
grcss Of the various symptoms that my
, own cares became as things of naught
After paying one or two minor visits
returned home. Martha opened the door
, and Immediately retired into the kitchen
without word. Marian was nowhere
to be found. | went up stairs in searcl
Of her. She was not there, but little
table in the corner covered with writ
ing materials betrayed her recent
, presence. An open letter in hand
writing | knew and detested attracted
, my attention. Husbands have certain
prcrogatives. | asserted one ut tha
: moment, and l read the letter. If yOl
care to do the same here tits; if not, ski
it:
= "DEAR MAY-If you don't contrive to SEM
me fl0 before this day week it will be ruina
ton tor me. If you send it you will enab
= me to retrive my former position, and beeom
2 a credit to my family. Yours, affectionately
, 20 FRANK"
+ "The young rascal, what fresh mes
e has he been getting intow exclaimed
+ angrily. This same Frank had been TIN
t source of untold squabbles between my
self and Marian; holding a fairly goot
e position in the city for an unmarrie'
# man, and yet always getting into debt
e Presently | heard Marian enter th
l., house. With the letter in my hand
n confronted her. She turned first whit
d and then red, and asked me by wha
:, right gentleman entered laay's pri
y vate room and read her correspondence
e | paid no attention to this high-fiowl
a language, but replied by asking he
whether she had been out to post letter
: She admitted she had.
d "To Frankp" l inquired.
G 81 decline to say" she replied
k haughtily.s
t, Containing money!" | asked.
n "That | also decline to say" she II
piled.
l. Here was 3 pretty pass things ha
e come tony own wife openly refusin
" to answer my questions! What was
e to think? | think any one else in m
d place would have come to the same cor
1t clusion / did-namely, that the lette
70 was to Frank, and that it cOntaine
monty. A few inquiries at the postofliC
e confirmed my supposition. From til
d time of this discoverya a cloud seemed
Us have settled over our usually happ
II household. Marian was sullen an
If angry, and sat at the head of the tab
le without speaking word. Betwee
e meal times | scarcely ever saw he
er Martha sided with her mist ess, and a
ways looked at me reproachfully.
IN In the meantime other cases wei
10 pressing hard and fast upon me.
re spite of Il rigid examination / could di
er cover no ciew to the lost money. {
a course, | had been obliged to make
lg good, and in order to do this, ha
s. drained myself of every available ia
g. thing.
th These events happened at q time
ry year when it was impossible to call
IN many outstanding debts; so that after
US while of desperate struggle against ol
to unfortunate circumstances, was cor
ng PEELED, sorely against my will, to appe
No to my father. All this while had n
T. been inert about the lost money, buth;
held several discussions with dete
rd tive. A fear of incurring additional e
in pense had deferred me fIom setting hi
as to work; but as he seemed to think tn
ed to trace the money would be &
'y, easiest thing in the world, ] at last ga
,e- him authority to commence a strict
wv vestigation
ne From the detectives / went to u