St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-22
HOW II WAS FOUND.

Mrs. Motfet was IN despair NO won
der. Here she was, "a lone, lorn widow"
who having been left in 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. " WIN Il 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 meek little woman,
finid and retiring; she disliked change
in her household affairs, she disliked
worry and anxiety, being naturally
cheerful and lively in disposition, and
she did like Mr.. Montgomery. Truman
Montgomery, bachelor, had been fix
ture in the Moffet boarding house ever
since Mr.. Moffet had s'shuff1ed 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 ssrooms. to rent" within,
Mr.. Truman Montgomery had been her
most distinguished and best paying
boarder. He had been the first to apply,
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? Ali, that was the
worst of It'll He had lost money--a large
amount-from his room, and refused to
longer remain in a house where thieves
were harbored.
Mrs. Moffet was a plump, pretty little
woman of some-pshaw! who can guess
a woman's age? If q woman is really
"as young as she looks" then Mrs. Moi
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 charming woman.
She listened to Mr.. Montgomery's story
with alternate horror, terror, despair.
At its close she burst into tears.
t.Oh, deari 1t is awfult' she sobbed.
'sYou know that am ignorant Of the
whereabouts of your money; and oh, it
viii ruin my house if it gets known!"
aCan't help it, na'am. Very sorry,
I'm sure; but then it's a mere case of self
defense. Can't stay in a house where
I'm liable to-to-be robbed"
And then Mrs. Moffet bowed with as
much dignity as though she were an en-
press.
every well, sir You know best, Of
course, sir. I will have your bill ready
ID few moments, and you'-
Stay, Mrs. Mofret. ! will not leave
lntil ny month is up, which will be in
hree dsYso L believe"
Mrs. Mofet bowed once more.
.sAs yestl like, sir. In the meantime we
vill do ST in our power to recover the T
Noney.a
But ny Truman Montgomery looked I
;iank, for he knew that the money was
,one bexpnd earthly hope Of recovery,
nd Ne Montgomery was man who,
Ike JAG Bunsby, "allus knew his own
mind
fsPoo,f little thingl How pale she
ooksp 1ss said to himself, as he went
ack to sshfs room to go through with a
ong anE fruitless search once more. II
wish it cad been different But then
nam casss't stay in house and look upon
as a.. home when he is always losing
aoney. First, it was that package of
fo0--I didn't say word to Mrs. Moffet
bout that, for fear of hurting her feel s
ngs; and then III was $50 bill; and
ow--now it is this package of 5000. i
90 much to lose. Altogether too much,
declare. Yet I wish it had not hap
ened here. Lucy Moffet is the sweetest
tile woman alive, / think.
And at that very moment sthe sweet
it little woman alive" was shut up in
er own room In close confab with Frank
Lyndon, one of the boarders, who was
10 private detective.
ssHe tells me, madame, that he has
,st money here before the young man
saying as he studies Mrs. Moffet's pale,
gitated face intently; aand really
link for the sake Of the reputation of |
our house, If for no other reason
ugIt to have this mystery cleared up.
m in favor Of searching the boarders. J"
Mercy shrieked Mrs. Moffet. It |
ouIdn't do, Mr.. GIyndon. I'd lose the
st one. Fancy searching Col. Overton
ia Ills stylish, fashionable wife-or
,eir rooms to find stolen package Of
loney. No-nol Whatever you may
e cit to do Ia this sad business must be
one secretly. Z
The detective took d new tack.
Teacher Who reigned after Sanl ~ /
scholar David. I e