Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-01-02
494ssesss ss1sE.sel9 ]
HOW IT WAS FOUND.

Mrs. Moffet was in despair No won
der. Here she was, "a lone, lorn widow,
who having been left III straitened Cir
cumstances = with only the house in
which she lived to call her own-had
been reduced to the dernier resort of
taking boarders. Well, surely that is
misfortune enough, as all poor, worried,
tired out boarding house keepers can
testify; but now calamity had come upon
her, and 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. The immense coal bills, the extra
gas, the endless additions to her already
exorbitant list of expenses.
Mrs. Moffet was a meek little woman
timid and retiring; she disiiked change
in her household affairs. she disiked
worry and anxiety, being naturally
cheerful and lively in disposition, and
she did like Mr.. Montgomery. Truman
Montgomery, bachelor, had been a fix
ture in the Moffet boarding house ever
since Mr.. Moffet had ''shutfied off this
mortal coil, which he accomplished in
hasty manner one day, falling dead in
the street of heart disease.
From the time that the childless widow
had turned away from the lonely grave
under the crisp November sky, and went
back to her desolate home to face her
own poverty, from the time that mod
est placard had appeared upon the front
door, stating in clear, concise terms
that there were "rooms to rent" within,
Mr.. Truman Montgomery had been her
most distinguished and best paying
boarder. He had been the first to oapply,
had secured the most expensive apart
ment, furnished it to suit himself, and
engaged to take his meals also at the
Moffet table; as time wore on he had
come to be part of the household. Men
might come and men might go, but
Montgomery stayed on forever And
now this cold morning in early winter
Mrs. Moffet was forced TO stand face to
face with the truth. He was going
away. And why? All, that was the
worst of it. He had lost money-a large
amount-from his room, and refused to
longer remain in a house where thieves
were harbored.
Mrs. Motfet was plump, pretty little
woman of some-pshaw! who can guess
woman's age? If a woman is really
"as young as she looks" then Mrs. Mof-
fet could not be much past 80; at all
events she had not yet begun to look out
of the western windows of life, and she
was in every way a charming woman.
She listened to Mr. Montgomery story
with alternate horror, terror, despair.
At its close she burst into tears.
ooh, dear! 1t is awful!'' she sobbed.
"You know that | am ignorant of the
whereabouts of your money: and oh, it
will ruin my house if it gets known
Cant help it, ma'am. Very sorry,
I'm sure; but then it's q mere caseof self
defense. Can't stay in house where l
am liable to-to-be robbed"
And then Mrs. Moffet bowed with as
much dignity as though she were an en-
press.
Very well, sir You know best of
course, sir. l will have your bill ready
in a few moments, and you'-
'.Stay, Mrs. Moffet. l will not leave
until my month is up, which Will be in
three days, l believe"
Mrs. Moffet bowed once more.
.'As you like, sir. In the meantime we
will. do all i'll our power to recover the
missing money.
But Mr.. Truman Montgomery looked
blank, for he knew that the money was
gone beyond earthly hope of recovery,
and Mr.. Montgomery was a man who,
like Jack Bunsby, ''allus knew his own
mind"
Poor little thing. How pale she
looks.' he said to himself, as he went
back to his room to so through with a
long and fruitless search once more. 81
wish it had been different. But then
man can't stay in a house and look upon
it as a home when he is always losing
money First, it was that package of
S100-I didn't say word to 3lrs. Moffet
about that, for fear of hurting her feel
ings; and then it was a 500 bill; ana
now-now it is this package of $1,000.
Too much to lose. Altogether too much,
l declare Yet l wish it had not hap
pened here Lucy Moffet is the sweetest
little woman alive, l think"
And at 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. Moffet's pale.
agitated face intently; land l really
think-for the sake of the reputation of
your house, if for no other reason-you
sught to have this mystery cleared up.
I'm in favor of searching the boarders.
''Mercy!" shrieked Mrs. Motfet. 1T
wouldn't do, Mr.. Glyndon. I'd lose the
last one. Fancy searching Col. Overton
and his stylish, fashionable wife-or
their rooms-to find stolen package of
money. Mono! Whatever you may
see fit to do in this sad business must be
done secretly"
The detective took new tack.