CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND.
IMPRISONMENT OF THE SOLDIER'S WIFE.
We must now take a glance back at the time that Mrs.Wentworth committed her act of despair in taking the package of money from the safe.

Mr.Swartz, as we stated, was then gazing intently at the open pages of his ledger, and, in her leaving the room hurriedly, did not take any other notice of her, than mere glance.

He then resumed his calculations, nor did he rise from his seat for nearly three hours afterwards, so intent was he on the books before him.

Rising up at last, he walked to the safe, and observing that the package of money was gone, called out to his clerk, who quickly answered the summons and entered the room.
"Vere is dat package of money I had on de safe dis morning ?" he enquired, as soon as the clerk had entered.
"I have not seen anything of it, since I gave it into your hands this morning at nine o'clock," the clerk replied.
"Vell, I put it on top of dis safe," observed Mr.Swartz, "and I forgot to lock it up, ven Mr.Elder came in, and kept me talking nearly two hours, den de beggar came in and remained for a long time.
After dat I vas busy mit the ledger, and didn't think of it." "Perhaps you have placed it somewhere else, and cannot recollect where," remarked the clerk, who was apprehensive that Mr.Swartz would charge him with having stolen the money.
"No, I didn't," answered Mr.Swartz, "De monish vas put down on de top of the safe, for I remember putting it down here myself," he added, pointing to the spot where the money had been.
"You had better search about before you make certain of that," said the clerk.

"See if it is not in your pocket you may have placed it there, and at the same time believe that you placed it on your safe." "Mine Cot!" answered Mr.Swartz, "I tell you I put the package on de safe.