sual hour for his return came and went. Another hour passed; and
another. A horrible idea that Mr. Chase had been robbed gave way to one
more horrible still. He paced the room in dismay, until at nine o'clock
his wife came down, and in a languid fashion began to set the
supper-table.

"Alf's very late," said Mr. Teak, thickly.

"Is he?" said his wife, dully.

"Very late," said Mr. Teak. "I can't think--Ah, there he is!"

He took a deep breath and clenched 'his hands together. By the time Mr.
Chase came into the room he was able to greet him with a stealthy wink.
Mr. Chase, with a humorous twist of his mouth, winked back.

"We've 'ad a upset," said Mr. Teak, in warning tones.

"Eh?" said the other, as Mrs. Teak threw her apron over her head and sank
into a chair. "What about?"

In bated accents, interrupted at times by broken murmurs from his wife,
Mr. Teak informed him of the robbery. Mr. Chase, leaning against the
doorpost, listened with open mouth and distended eyeballs. Occasional
interjections of pity and surprise attested his interest. The tale
finished, the gentlemen exchanged a significant wink and sighed in
unison.

"And now," said Mr. Teak an hour later, after his wife had retired,
"where is it?"

"Ah, that's the question," said Mr. Chase, roguishly. "I wonder where it
can be?"

"I--I hope it's in a safe place," said Mr. Teak, anxiously. "Where 'ave
you put it?"

"Me?" said Mr. Chase. "Who are you getting at? I ain't put it
anywhere. You know that."

"Don't play the giddy goat," said the other, testily. "Where've you hid
it? Is it safe?"

Mr. Chase leaned back in his chair and, shaking his head at him, smiled
approvingly. "You're a little wonder, that's what you are, Gussie," he
remarked. "No wonder your pore wife is took in so easy."

Mr. Teak sprang up in a fury. "Don't play the fool," he said hoarsely.
"Where's the money? I want it. Now, where've you put it?"

"Go on," said Mr. Chase, with a chuckle. "Go on. Don't mind me. You
ought to be on the stage, Gussie, that's where you ought to be."

"I'm not joking," said Mr. Teak, in a trembling voice, "and I don't want
you to joke with me. If you think you are going off with my money,
you're mistook. If you don't tell me in two minutes where it is, I shall
give you in charge for theft."

"Oh" said Mr. Chase. He took a deep breath. "Oh, really!" he said. "I
wouldn't 'ave thought it of you, Gussie. I wouldn't 'a