e
sweeping of the library in the still hours of the night. He had an
idea as to who the culprit was, and what that idea was is plain
enough to us, but the question of motive was the great puzzle to him
now.

"If she did take them, why should she?" was the problem he was
trying to solve; and then, as if his trials were not already great
enough for one day, Bessie broke excitedly into the room.

"Thaddeus!" she cried, "there's something wrong in this house; my
best table-cloth is missing, our dessert-spoons are gone, and what
do you suppose has happened?"

"I don't know--a volcano has developed in the cellar, I suppose,"
said Thaddeus.

"No," said Bessie, "it isn't as bad as that; but the ice-cream man
has telephoned up to know whether we want the cream for dinner or
for eleven o'clock, according to the order as he understands it."

"Well," said Thaddeus, "I don't see anything very unusual in an ice-
cream man's needing to be told three or four times what is expected
of him."

"But I never ordered any cream at all," said Bessie.

"Ah," said Thaddeus, "that's different. Did you tell Partinelli
so?"

"I did, and he said he was sure he wasn't mistaken, because he had
taken the order himself."

"From you?"

"No, from Margaret."

"Then it's all right," said Thaddeus; "it's a clew that fits very
nicely into my theory of our recent household disturbances. If you
will wait, I think things will begin to develop very shortly, and
then we shall be able to dismiss this indictment against the cat we
thought we heard last night."

"Do you think Margaret is dishonest?"

"I don't know," said Thaddeus. "I shouldn't be surprised if she had
friends with taking ways; in other words, my dear, I suspect that
Margaret is in league with people outside of this house who profit
by her mistaken notions as to how to be generous; but I can't prove
it yet."

"But what are you going to do?"

"Set a watch. I have sent for a detective," said Thaddeus.

This was too much for Bessie. She was simply overcome, and she sat
squarely down upon the arm-chair, which fortunately was immediately
behind her. I think that if it had not been, she would have plumped
down upon the floor.

"Detective!" she gasped.

"Exactly," said Thaddeus, "and here he comes," he added, as a
carriage was driven up to the door and one of the citizen police
descended therefrom.

"You would better leave us to talk over this matter together," said
Thadde