The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-07-09
"Tbis is quite TOO bad, Harold

What have you done with tht
box g''
"Done with the box Il exclaime
"wbat do you mean, Marian ~
Il won't stand this trifilnr any long
err" replied my wife. ITS shame
to give nae the responsibility Of that
money and then tease me in thi:
style ?"
What on earth is the woman talk
ing about?n l replied bewildered
''say what you mean insplain words
| beg"
"The money is not here. It's gone,
box and all.n Marian replied with a
white face.
"Gone p cried, CODE, Where's
it gone, how's ii gone. OF who has ia.
ken it. | should ike to know? You
must be rasi1e Let me come and
look.n
Marian moved aside and / knel.
down to the drawer No sign OF
box was there As my wife had
said, the money was gone
But how, when, or where? The
drawer was locked, the cupboard was
locked, the dressing case was locked,
the purse inside it, the keys in the
dressing table drawer These things
my wife and Martha were sure Of
4 man placed in such position is
bound to have an idea Of the subject
and assert it, so | suggested that
Martha must be the culmit
"No, no, don't say that" cried my
wife. excitedly. "I'd as soon believe
that | was the thief ss she. I've
known her all my life No, no, it isn't
Martha"
"You talk ike chiId,r | replied,
with an air of superiority, for really
women have no reasoning powers
whatever-not even the best OF
them. "Can you suggest any one
else who by any possibility could
have taken the money ?'f
Indeed | can not,n Marian replied
at could not be house-breaker, for
the locks were just as ] left them;
nothing had been touched apparent
ly"
''You admit that it could not be
any one outside the house, SO il must
be Martha, that is plain logieo, said
with as much evenness o. temper as
| could command at that moment.
1t isn't Martha" replied my wife,
stubbornly: "ill never believe IT,"
For my part, felt sure that it was
Aad as it was quite impos-
sible that she could have got rid of it
get / hoped | should easily discover
Bat she denied the charge 50 en-
phatically that it was with a very
anxious heart | betook myself to the
bedside OF my patients The case
was 8 complicated and peculiar one,
and nv mind soon became so inter
ssted in the progress Of the various
symptoms that my own *sres became
- nought. After payi1 one or Two |
minor visits returned fome Mar
.ha opened the door, and Immediate |
v retired into the kitch without a |
word. Marian w4s r5x1sre 20 be I
,ound. | went up stairs 10 search OF
Ter. She was no. there, and a little
able in the corner covered with |
writing material betrayed her recen.
presence. An open letter in q hand
writing | knew and de,ested, at
racted my attention Husbands
ave certain prerogatiyes / assert
d one that moment, and ] read the
etter. II you care to do the same,
Iere it is:
DEAR MAY:-If yon don't con-
rive to send me SO before this daY
week it will be ruinaiion for me. III
-ou send it you will enable me to re-
rieve my former position. and be-
ONE credit to my family. Yours
ifectionaielY, FRANK
The young rascal; what fresh
less has be been getting into?n !
aDgrity. The same Frank
ad been the source of untold squab-
les between myself and Marian
olding a fairly good position in the
ity. for az unmarried man, and yet I
ways getting into debt
Presently | beard Marian enter the
ouse. With the letter in my hand l
1nfronted her She tnrned first red
ld then white, and asked me by
bat righ: gentleman entered la-
Us private room and read her cor ,
| paid no attention to this high I
1wn language, but replied by ask
z her whether she had beea out to
'st letter She admitted that she
I'd.
TO Frsuk 2" / inquired. r
Il decline to say" she replied {
lagblilv
Containing money 2r / asked. d
That | also decline to say" she re-
led. Ii
Here was a pretty pass, things had !
me to-my own wife utterly refus- +
2 20 answer my questions, What 4
as | to think? | think any one else 5
nv place would haze come to the L
me conclusion as | did-namely, j
at the letter was TO Frank, aud Il
at it contained money. A few in
iries st the post-otfice confirmed my Ct
pposition. From the time of this d
.coTery a cloud seemed to have tt
.iled over car usually happy house tt
ld Marian was sullen and angry,
d SAT a. the head of the table with
: speaking a word. Between meal a
les | scarcely ever saw ber. Mar
> sided with her mistress. and tc
ways looked q, me reproacbfGlly.
In the meantime other cares were cC
essiag hard and fast upon me. In ia
ie ola rigid examination / could iu
cover no clew to the money. Of Iii
lrse had been obliged to make it
ID. and, 10 order TO do this. had tt
.ined myself of every available 10
thing Ii
These events happened at g time d.
year when If was impossible to o.
! in many outstanding debts: so VI
It after while of desperate strug- sa
against our u,toTfunate eircum-
oces. ! was c1mpelled. sorely "
aiust nv viii. 70 appeal to my 10
her All this while ! bad not been
II ahonr the insf rannar hr,r hsd ci