Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-06-13
TIE SOMNAMBULIST.

widow" who having been left in
straitened circumstances - with only
the house in which she lived to call her
own-had been reduced to the der1,ter
resort of taking boarders. Now calami-
ty had come upon her, she was about to
lose her best-paying boarder-lose him
just as the winter was coming on, and
the thousand and one extra expenses
which cold weather is certain to create
all to be met.
Mrs. Moffet was a meek little woman.
timid and retiring; she disliked change
in her household affairs, she had dis
liked worry and anxiety, being natural
ly cheerful and lively in disposition,
and she did like Mr.. Montgomery,
And now this cold morning in the
early winter Mrs. Moffett was forced to
stand face to face with the truth. He
was going away. Any why? All, that
was the worst of it! He had lost money
"a large amount-from his room, and
refused to longer remain in house
where thieves were harbored.
Mrs. Moiret listened to Mr.. Mont
gomery's story with alternate horror,
terror, despair. At its close she burst
into tears.
"Oh, dear! 1t is awfulr' she sobbed.
you know that am ignorant of the
whereabouts of your money; and oh,
it will ruin my house lift gets known!"
Cant help il, ma'am. Very sorry,
I'm sure; but then it's n mere case OF
self-defense. Can't stay in house
where / am liable to-to-be robbed.
And then Mrs. Moffet bowed with as
much dignity as though she were an
empress.
Very well, sir. You know best, of
course, sir ! will have your bill
ready in few moments, and you--"
Stay, Mrs. Moffet. | will not leave
until my month is up, which will be in
three days, believe"
Mrs. MofTet bowed once more.
LAS YOU like, sir. In the meantime
we will do all in our power to recover
the missing money"
But Mr.. Truman Montgomery looked
blank.
Poor little thing! How pale she
looks" he said to himself, as he went
back to his room to go through with a
long and fruitless search once more.
Il wish it had been different. But
look upon it as home when he is al
ways losing money. First, it was that
package of twenty pounds didn't
say word to Mrs. Moffet about that,
for fear of hurting her feelings-and
then it was five pound note, and
now-now it is this package Of thous-
and pounds. Too much TO lose. AL
together too much, | declare. Yet
wish it had not happened here. Lucy
Moffet is the sweetest little woman
alive. / think"
And Mt that very moment 1.-THE sweet
est little woman alive" was shut up In
her own room in close confab with
Frank Glyndon, one of the boarders,
who was also private detective.
''He tells me, madame, that he has
lost money here, before" the young
man is saying as he studies Mrs. Moi
fet's pale, agitated face intently; land
really think-for the reputation of
the house, if for no other reason-you
ought to have this mystery cleared up.
I'm in favor of searching the board
ers."
'Mercyl" shrieked Mrs. Moffet. at
wouldn't do, Mr.. Glyndon. I'd lose
the last one. Fancy searching Colonel
Overton and his stylish, fashionable
wife-or their rooms--to find stolen
package of money. Mono! What
ever you may see fit to do in this sad
business must be done secretly"
The detective took new tack.
Mrs. Motfet; there is closet adj
joining Mr.. Montgomery's room. May
I occupy it tonight? | have an idea,
and would like to prove if my theory is
correct. If YOU consent, l will slip in
to the closet after Montgomery has re-
tired (there is another door. you know,
and in the morning l will make
faithful report to YOU"
At last it was settled. There were
only three nights before Mr.. Mont
gomery's intended departure. They
must make the best of the time.
The next morning Frank Glyndon
smiled knowingly in Mrs. Moffet's di-
rection when he met her at the break
fast-table. The smile and the look
which accompanied it met Mr.. Mont
gomery's eye, and straightway
strange conviction was aroused in his
breast. What did it meanp That Mr..
Glyndon was detective he did not
dream. Shortly after breakfast was
over he saw Glyndon slip folded
scrap of paper into the widows plump
hand. The sight made Montgomery
gnash his teeth.
"a billet-doux!' he muttered. Here,
this is going on right before my eyes;
l suppose there will be wedding
nextw and Mr.. Truman Montgomery,
as he left the house and wended his
way downtown in search of new
boarding place, certainly did not feel
comfortable.
Now the scrap of paper had con-
tanned these words.
IL have found out the mystery. Have
some of the boarders-all of them, If
you like--in the upper hall tonight ut
about eleven o'clock, and you will learn
the truth. 1t was just as had suspect
ed"
Eleven struck in loud tones from the
big clock on the stairs, and most of the
boarders, obedient to hasty sum-
mons, appeared in the hall outside the
door of Mr.. Truman Montgomery's
room. A little later the door was
opened noisclessly from within and the