The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-09-26
VOL. Y.

5 But how, when or where? The drawe
: was locked the cupboard was locked, tn
I. dressing-case was locked, the purse wa
: inside it, the keys in the dressing-tabl
; drawer. These things my wife and Martl,
we're sure of. A man in such po2itio
il bound to have an idea on the subject
and to assert it, so suggested tha
Martha must be the culprit.
mo, no don't say that, . cried 70.
wife, excitedly. "1'd as soon believe tina
was the thief as she. I've known he
all my life. No, no it isn't Martha.
"You talk like q child, replied
with an air Of superiority, for really wo
men have no reasoning powers whatevel
not even the best of them. "Can yor
suggest any one else who by any posi-
biIity could have taken the money 2"
''Iudeed, can not" Marian replied
ut could not be bousebreaker, for the
locks were just as left them; nothing
had been touched, apparently. :"
"You admit it could not be any on:
outside Of the house, so it must be Martha
that is plain logic" / said with rs much
eveuness Of temper as | could command
at the moment.
| 1T isn't Martha, replied my wifi,
stubbornIy; I'll never believe it.. s"
For my part [ tct sure that it was
Martha. Aud 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 emphat-
ically that it was with very anxious
heart that | betook myself to she bedside
Of my patient. The case was u coElpli-
Gated and peculiar one, and my mind be
game SO interested in the progress Of the
various symptoms, that my own cares
became as things of naught. After pay.
ing one or Two minor visits [ returned
home. Martha opened the door and i'm.
mediateIy retired into the kitchen, with
out word. Marian was nowhere to be
found. | went upstairs in search OF her
She was not there, but q little table in
corner covered with writing materials
betrayed her recent presence. An open
letter i'll Il hand writing that knew and
detested attracted my attention. Hus.
bands have certain prerogatiyes. ]
asserted one at that moment. II you
care TO do the same, here 1t is; if not,
skip it.
. 4DEAa MAY-1f you don't contriye 10
send me el0 before this day week il will
be ruinatioa for me. Ifyou send it you
will cuable me to retrieve my former po-
sition, nnd become u credit to my family.
"Yours, affectionatcly FRANZ.
"Ih@ young rascal what fresh mess
has he been getting into z" | exclaimed |
npgrlly. This same Frank had been the
source Of untold squabbles between
myself and Marian holding fairly good I
position in the city, for an unmarried .
man, and yet always getting into debt.
Presently | heard Marian enter the
house, With the letter in my hand !
confronted her. She turned first white
md then red, and asked me by what
light a gentleman entered Q lady's /
,oom and read her correspondence.
| paid no attention to this high flown
aaguage, but replied BY asking her
whether she had been out to post letter.
She admitted she had.
ITO Frank 2" inquired.
II decline to answer she replied.
Containing money" ] asked.
"That also decline to answer" she
'eplied, haughtily.
Here was o pretty pass things had
:ome to. Ny own wife openly refusing
0 answer my questions What was / to
hink | think any one else in my place
would have come to the same conclusion
hat I did--namely, that the letter was to
frank, and that it contained money. !
aw inquiries ct the post-ofice confirmed |
ay suppositon. From the time of this !
iscovery q cloud seemed to have settled |
yer our usually happy household. f
Iarian was st.Ilen and angry, and sat at
he head of the table without speaking {
ord. Between meal times | scarcely
yer saw her. Martha sided with her
Mistress and looked at me reproachfully. {
In the meantime other cares were c
ressing hard and last upon me. In spite I
+ rigid examination | could discover
0 clue to the lost money, Of course | had \
cen obliged to make it good, and in :
rder to do this had drained myself Of f
very available tarthing, It
These events happened at time Of 4
ear when it was impossible to call in !
any outstanding debts !; 50 that, after a n
hile Of desperate struggling against our +
nfortunate circumstances, was com v
elled, sorely against my will, to appeal 5
my father. All this while had not f