Connecticut western news., 1899-01-12
MISSING MONEY.

Erastus Twopeny was lawyer. ex pert in real estate values and an apt oonveyancer, and as he practiced in the days before the title guarantee hawl had swooped down upon the legal barn yard and captured the geese that laiG the golden eggs he made money. A soon as he found himself in condition to marry he took to himself wife. She was energetic and ambitious, and while she proved herself an excellent house. wife she was at the same time inflamed by strong desire to acquire wealth or her own account.
 Her husband was all that woman could desire, and she had nothing to complain 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 him. self incapable of retaining any position which his friends had procured for him. He was good looking, agreeable young fellow, but lacked those staying qual- ities which make one a good man of business. In society he was all right and favorite with the families where he visited. He had no vices so far as known by his family, except smoking can be considered such, and when he was out of funds his sister always man. aged to supply him with money enough to enjoy that luxury.
 Erastus was devoted to his profession, and often after quitting his office for the day continued to transact business during the evening at his home The house was an old fashioned one, with a back piazza and an alley at one side leading from the front to the yard in the rear. The front and back parlors were originally separated by folding doors, but dainty curtain, tastefqlly festooned, had been substituted for tho doors.
 One evening in August client called to pay Erastus $2, 500 on real estate transaction, and, as the back parlor was dark and the front parlor sufficiently lighted by the setting sun for the work, Erastus and his client seated themselves at table therein, while Mrs. Twopeny sat near the window. Though she was chiefly occupied in watching the pass ersby and the children 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 to- ward 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 cur tain, looking out. In a few minutes the men at the table arose and Mir. Twopeny accompanied his client to the door. I'm. mediately afterward Mrs. Twopeny heard slight noise and turning saw the curtains between the front and back par. lors moving. She thought nothing of ii at the time, Annoying that it was the re. suit of draft occasioned by her hus- band closing the front door.
 The house was only a 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 hel brother just turning the corner and wondered what could have delayed him. While still at the window mus ing, she was startled by her husband exolaiming:
 "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 Jeff l it there"
 "Well, can't find it," her husband said. "I left it right here in front o1 these papers. They are all right, bu the money is gone"
 "Oh, that is absurd" she said Light the gas, and then you will flnt | it, no doubt.''
 While she pulled down the blinds ] Erastus lighted the gas, and then boti set to work to look for the missing notes. They were not on the table, nol could they be found anywhere about th' room or in the hallway.
 Look in all your pockets" said th' wife. "You may have inadvertently put the money into one of them. "No, mo-" was the reply. "I'v, searched every one of them already ! It's gone. No doubt about 1t. Blu where?''
 "There's no one in the house but our selves" the wife said. II allowed tn, cook and Nancy to go out immediatel. after supper. Brother Charles went ou while you were at the table with you client. and there isn't even cat ill tn
 house to blame for it. .''
 | Then they made another search, bu it was as vain as the others. And ther each of them stood, looking this wa.
 and that, as one will do when one lose anything and fondly hopes to discove
 1t in some unexpected spot. "You' Ire sure your client paid your
 Mrs. Twopeny said.
 "Oh, yes, and gave him receipt, was the answer. "And Simpson is toe prominent man to-
 He paused and looked on the ground thoughtfully. "To what?" his wife asked.
 "Come into the back parlor." MT Twopeny said.
 They went, and MT. Twopeny light ed his cigar and sat down to smoke, a his custom was when anything disturb ed him. Mrs. Twopeny sat down oppo
 ate to him.
 "Now then. to what?" she repeated "Te AnkA ths nsasy," he nelA IT