Year: 1879

have you done with the box p


Done with the box p exclaimed what
do you mean, Marian p


Il won't stand this trifling any longer
replied my wife. IT'S shame to give me
the responsibility of that money and then
tease me like this p


what on earth is the woman talking
about p cried, ,bewldered. Say what you
mean in plain words, beg


'The moneys not here. It's gone, box
and ALL Marian replied, with white
face.


Gone = cried, gone Where's it gone,
or who has taken it, should like to know
You must be raving Let me come and
Look


Marian moved aside and / knelt down to
the drawer. No sign of box was there.
As my wife had said, the money was
gone.


But how, when, or where The drawer
was locked, the cupboard was locked, the
dressing case was locked, the purse was in.
side it, the keys in the dressing table draw
er. These things my wife and Martha were
sure of. A man placed in such a position is
bound to have an idea on the subject and to
assert it, so l suggested that Martha must
be the culprt.


NO, no, don't say that, cried my wife,
excitedly. I'd as soon believe that was
the thief as she. I've known her all my
life No, no, it isn't Martha


you talk like child 1 replied, with an
air of superiority, for really women have no
reasoning powers whatever-not even the
best of them. "Can you suggest any one
else who by any possibility could have taken
the money!


Indeed I cannot Marian replied. 1T
could not be a housebreaker, for the locks
were just as left them nothing had been
touched, apparently


You admit that it could not be any one
outside the house, so it must be Martha, that
is plain logic l said, d,with as much evenness
of temper as could command at the mo-
ment.


1T isn't Martha, replied my wife, stub
bornly I'll never believe it,


For my part felt sure that it was Mar.
tina. And as it was quite impossible that
she could easily recover it.
But she denied the charge so emphatically
that it was with a very anxious heart be-
took myself to the bedside of my patient
The case was complicated and peculiar
one, and my mind soon became so interested
in the progress of the various symptoms that
my own cares became as things of nought.
After paying one or two minor visits re.
turned home. Martha opened the door and
Immediately retired into the kitchen, with
out word. Marian was nowhere to he
found. l went up stairs in search of her
She was not there, but a little table in the
corner, covered with writing materials, be-
trayed her recent presence. An open letter
in handwriting knew and detested, at.
tracted my attention. Husbands have GER
tain prerogatives | asserted one at that
moment and read the letter. If you can do
the same, here it is if not, skip it


"DEAR MAY-If you don't contrive to
send me ten pounds before this day week, it
will be ruination for me. If you send it you
will enable me to retrieve my former posi-
ton, and become credit to my family
Yours, affectionately,
FRANK"


The young rascal what fresh mess has
he been getting into?' exclaimed, angrily.
The same Frank had been the source of un-
told squabbles between myself and Marian
holding a fairly good position in the city for
an unmarrid man, and always getting into
| debt.


Presently heard Marian enter the house
With the letter in my hand I confronted
her. She turned first white and then red, and
asked me by what right gentleman enter.
ed lady's private room and read cores
| pondence.


paid no attention to this high flown
language, but replied by asking her whether
she had been out to post letter. She ad
mitted she had.


TO Frank p l inquire d.


Il decline to say she replied, haught
lily.


Containing money! l asked.


THAT l also decline to say she re-
piled.


Here was pretty pass things had come
tony own wife openly refusing to answer
my questions think any one else in my
plac would have come to the same conclu
sion as | did-namely, that the letter was tc
Frank, and that it contained money. A few
inquiries at the Post-office confirmed my
suppositon. From the time of this dis
covery cloud seemed 10 have settled owe
the usually happy household. Marian wa
sullen and angry and sat at the head of thu
table without speaking a word. Between
meal times l scarcely ever saw her Marthi
sided with her mistress, and always looked
at me reproachfully.


In the meantime other cares were press
ing hard and fast upon me- In spite of
rigid examination / could discover no clu
to the lost money. OF course l had beef
obliged to make it good, and, in order to d,
this, had drained myself of every availabl
farthing.


These events happened at time of yea
when it was impossible to call in man,
outstanding dt BITS so that after while o
desperate struggle against our unfortun
circumstances, | was compelled, sorel
against my will, to appeal to my father. Al
this while had not been inert about tn
lost money, but had held several discussion
with detective. A tear of incurring ad
ditional expense had deferred me from si
ting him to work but as he seemed to thin
that 10 trace the money would be the essie,
thing in the world, at last gave him al
thority to commence strict investigs
tion.


From the detectives went to my father
and plainly stating the facts, asked him
he woul d lend me the sum l had lost. Th


he agreed to do, and the conversation turne
|