The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-09-10

he was very much surprised 70 nave
her call him up on the third afternoon
Of her latest efforts. That she was
disturbed the trembling condition Of
her voice betrayed, but she would not
explain. she only begged him to come
right home and bring tine detective
with him, and SO Mr. Bagiey, wonder
ing, with visions OF some dire acct
dent. called mp the garage and ordered
his machine 1t three instead OF seven.
as he had intended, and took the de-
tective with him to his large and
when housecleaning was not in prog
ress. very comfortable home. Mrs.
Bagley herself opened the door. but
not the sedate. smiling and we'll
dressed Mrs. Bagley that the detective
had formerly seen, but an overplump.
rather shapeless person In q calico
dress and mob cap, who might have
been her own washwoman. She was
simply Mrs. Bagley in her houseclean-
ing raiment, but Mr.. Bagley knew i'm
mediately that something serious had
happened for his wife to permit a
stranger to view her before she had
passed through the hands Of her maid.
What Is It, my dear?" Mr.. Bagley
asked In some anxiety.
Mrs. Bagley's face was very pale.
but she spoke with composure. Come
upstairs. | have something to show
you BOTH" she said, and the two men
followed her upstairs to the room Mr..
Bagley used as study. There all was
confusion. Books and papers were "
ing about In juxtaposition with pals of
soapy water and cleaning rags. Mr..
Bagley groaned to himself How often
he had begged his wife to leave this
one room alone even he could not
have counted. but all to no purpose.
Mrs. Ragley did not hear the groan.
for 1t did not leave his throat. but she
knew 1t was there, and a triumphant
expression began to spread over her
face. little dirty, II the truth be told.
Il think you will be glad that have
insisted on cleaning this ROOM" she
said colby. moving ponderously to-
ward the closet, and motioning her
husband to stand upon q chair just
within the door.
Wondering, yet obedient, Mr.. Bag
ley climbed on the cane seat, hoping
he would not go through. peered at
the shelf at the top. then cried out
loud:
Rodgers" he said sharply, jumping
down.
Yes. what is it," Rodgers asked.
spring forward.
You get up there and look" Mr..
Bagley gasped. narrowly escaping one
Of the pals of soapy water in his ex-
element.
Rodgers In his turn clambered up
on the chair, and incidentally he did
so through, but managed to save him
self and balanced on the edge, then
forgot everything at what he saw. for
there on that shelf. mixed up with dis
carded half-torn envelopes. newspaper
clippings and the odds and ends which
had accumulated from the last house
cleaning, were neat packages OF bills.
and gold and silver.
Jumping wild cats!. he exclaimed.
only he did not say exactly those
words.
Can either of you explain!" Mrs.
Bagley asked in a cold voice.
Il can't" Mr.. Bagley admitted, wi
ping his face with one Of the cleaning
rags he picked up in his confusion.
and thereby decorating his face with
some streaks of dust.
Rodgers did not say anything, but
raked Off the money and then sat
down on the bare floor and began
counting 1t. 1t was all there to the
last roll of % pennies. all that had
been stolen from the safe on the two
occasions when IL was robbed.
Mrs. Bagley folded her arms on her
ample bosom and watched until she
saw that the detective had finished
counting. and then fired at him:
And now will you solve this mys-
tery?"
Rodgers looked up at her. smiled a
little and asked quietly:
Does Mr.. Bagley walk In his
sleep?"
"of course not" Mr.. Bagley snapped,
rubbing his nose vigorously 6-d dis
tributing the dust pretty evenly over
his red face
Mrs. Bagley smiled in q way Mr..
Bagley had always found very irritat.
Ing. and said coldly:
Yes. he has for years"
Matilda" Mr. Bagley began. but his
wife gave him a look and he subsidized.
Ever since he had grip ten years
ago. | have never let him know. but
| have been very uneasy about 1t and
yet never thought he could rob him
sell. aud not know it."
4 never" Mr.. Ragley started to say.
but Rodgers interrupted to ask.
You don't mean to say that you
knew what you We're doing?. and so
he subsidized and Mrs. Ragley and the
detective counted the money again.
while Rodgers explained that withon.
doubt Bagley had been worried upon
both occasions over the money heins
left In the safe. and had gone after it