The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-28
SELECTED STORY.
Missing Money.

days before the title guarantee hawk
had swooped down upon the legal
BARNARD and captured the geese that
laid the golden eggs he made money.
As soon as he found himself in a con-
dition to marry he took to himself
wife. She was energetic and ambi-
tious, and while she proved herself an
excellent housewife she was at the
same time inhamed by strong desire
,., W acquire wealth on her own account.
Her husband was all that a woman
eoald desire, and she had nothing to
compla!n of on that score. He was
even generous and showed it by giving
refuge in his comfortable home to his
wife's brother Charles, who had proved
himself incapable of retaining any po-
sition which his friends had procured
for him. He was good looking,
agreeable young fellow, but lacked
those staying qualities which make one
good man of business IA society he
was all right and favorte with the
families where he visited. He had no
vices 80 far as known by his family,
except smoking can be considered such,
and when he was out of funds his sis
ter always managed to supply him with
money enough to enjoy that luxury.
Erastus was devoted to his profess
sion, and often after quitting his Office
for the day continued TO transact bust
ness during the evening at his home.
The house was an old fashioned one,
with back piazza and an alley at one
side, leading from the front to the yard
in the rear. The front and hack par
Tors were originally separated by fold
ing doors, but a dainty curtain, taste
fully festooned, had been substituted
for the doors.
One evening in August Client call
ed to pay Erastus 50 500 on real es-
tate transaction, and, as the back par
Tor was dark and the front parlor suffi-
GENTLY lighted by the setting sun for
work, Erasmus and his client seated
themselves at table therein, while
Mrs. Twopeny sat near the window.
Though she was chiefly occupied in
watching the passersby and the child
rem at play in the street, yet she could
not help hearing what passed between
the two men at the table. Presently
her brother Charles came down stairs
and glanced in at the door. His sister
arose and spoke TO him, and both at the
same time looked toward the table on
which could be seen a small parcel of
greenbacks, with thin slip of white
paper around them.
Charles quilted the house and soon
afterward Mrs. Twopeny arose and
stood between the window and the lace
curtain, looking out. In few minutes
the men at the table arose and Mr..
Twopeny accompanied his client to the
door. Immediately afterward Mrs.
Twopeny heard slight noise and turn
ing saw the curtains between the front
and back parlors moving. She thought
nothing of it at the time, fancying that
it was the result of draft occasioned
by her bus band closing the front door.
The house was only few steps from
the cross street, and as the client came
down the stoop and turned toward the
corner Mrs. Twopeny followed him
with her eyes. To her surprise she
saw her brother just turning the corner
and wondered what could have delay ed
him. While still at the window mus
ing, she was startled by her husband
exclaiming:
"Why, Bertha, what can have be.
come of the money left on the table?'
Become of it?' she replied "Why
it must be there, of course, if you left
it there"
well, can't find it," her husband
said. 81 left it right here in front OF
these papers. They are all right, but
the money is gone"
ooh, that is absurd" che said
'Light the gas, and then you will FIND
it, no doubt"
While she pulled down the blinds
Ersstus lighted the gas, and then both
set to work to look for the missing
notes. They were not on the table
nor could they be found anywhere
about the room or in the hallway.
''Look in all your pockets" said the
wife. "You may have inadvertently
put the money into one of them"
ono, no." was the reply. "I'vs
searched every one of them already
It's gone. No doubt about it. But
whereof"
"There's no one in the house bu
ourselves" the wife said. 81 allowed
the cook and Nancy to go out immedi
ately after supper. Brother Charles
went out while you were at the table
with your client, and there isn't even (
cat in the house to blame for it,"
Then they made another search, bu
it was as vain as the others. Aud Their,
each Of them stood, looking this wa,
and that, as one will do when one losel
anything and fondly hopes to discover
it in some unexpected spot.
"Your sure your client paid you?'
Mrs. Twopeny said.
"Oh, yes, and gave him receipt
was the answer. "And Simpson i
too prominent man to-
He paused and looked on the groun,
thoughtfully. "To what2" his wifi
asked.
"Come into the back parlor," Mr.
Twopeny said.
They went, and Mr.. Twopeny light
ed his cigar and sat down to smoke, a
his custom was when anything die
turbed him. Mrs. Twopeny sat op
posite to him.
"Now then, to what9" she repeated
ITO take the money" he said in
low tone.
"Well, don't know" the wife said
"The money was there, and it is gone
Yon haven't got it, and / haven't 90
nd M ,ioh xu;ih ha, Ia