Year: 1879

will you take charge of twenty pounds
till to morrow morning, Martini


Take charge of twenty pounds, Harold ?
echoed my wife, in amazement. what do
you mean !?


| settled myself down to an explanation.
Explanations are things hate, nevertheless
they are necessary sometimes. One was due
on this occasion.


you know, my dear Martin, began, with
a business-like air, that the failure of Hard.
inge Brothers threw scores of men, women
and children in this neighborhood out of
work, in the very hardest part of a very bad
year. This evening meeting was held with
view of enlistng the sympathy of the pub
lie. A subscription list was got up, and a
collection made there and then to the tune
of twenty pounds. As nothing else could be
done with the money tonight, l was as
treasurer, obliged to bring it home
and very nervous felt I can assure you, at
coming along these lonely roads with such a
sum. However, have reached home safe
ly, in spite of my fears, aud now I shall de-
liver it over to you until l can get rid of
it.


And so free your mind from all response
bility, added my wife, with smile.


She knows that one of my chief weak
nesses is dread of responsibility.


'As far as possible, I replied.


tol, .,,.o - g.. -
as 10 where the money should be put.
suggested the meatsafe, as a place to which
thieves would never dream of going for
money, but my wife poob-poohed the idea,
as well as several other suggestions of mine,
which thought were not so bad.


At last an idea struck her in the shape of
the wne-drawer of the cupboard of the side
board. By this means the money would be
douby safe, she areued, for the drawer might
first be locked, in addition to locking the
door | looked rather contemptuousy on
the plan, for if the truth be told, felt it was
only due to myself to do so, since my wife
treated every suggestion of mine in SINH
lar manner.


Both of us failing to hit upon anything
better, the wine bin was agreed upon and
as looked over my evening paper, watch
ed her place the black japauned box in the
drawer. lock it, lock the side board, and
place the key in her own purse.


There ! she exclaimed, triumpbantly, Il
shouldn't think any one would get at that
before tomorrow morning, for this purse
goes into the we'll of my dressing case to-
night, and that will be locked and the keys
put away in my dressing-table drawer, SC
we are doubly and trebly secure


In spite of these precautions there was q
load on my mind that felt would only be
removed when the money was safe in the
bank. envied my wife her happy insensi
blity, for in less than half an hour she wa,
quietly sleeping while l tossed restlessly to
and fro, thinking about the money, ant
wondering whether any one could possibly
get at it.


AT last a grand idea struck me, which wa
| to put it inside the piano. Who woulC
dream of searching for treasure in such ;
place Whereas, what robber coming int
house would not go to sideboard anC
the very fact of finding it doubly LOCKED
would make him suspect that something wa
| hidden there. Plainly enough, Mistres
Marian, with all her cleverness, had choseI
the very worst place possible. Should g
down and remove it? / knew where th,
keys were to be found. had half miut
to do so, if only for the sake of quietinl
my mind and getting little sleep. n
doubt should have done so, had not cir
cumstance intervened-I fell asleep.
| 1t seemed scarcely an hour afterward tina
| awoke and heard sounds of life in tn
street below. Well so far all was safe nough
no robbers had molested US, aud | felt 5
comfortable and easy now that all DANCE
was over, that began to laugh at my nerv
Gus fears. How stupid it would have bee
to have gone down stairs in the middle q
such bitter night Thank goodness, hs
been too strongminded for that.


/ fell off into another doze, and, as
natural consequence, was late for breakfast
That meal was hurried one, and when
was over and / had my coat and hat OF
ready to start off on an important case,
remineded Marian of the money, and begge
of her to get it out quickly.


4 had quite forgotten it ? she exclaimed
Here Marian, run up stairs and fetch IN
purse out of my dressing case the keys al
in my dressing table drawer


Marian flew up stars to do her mistres
bidding, while | stood and chafed in th
, hall and submitted to having my cot