Another had strangely vanished!" Hugh almost gasped, he was so tremendously interested in this thrilling recital.
"You are certain you did not make any mistake, Mrs.Pangborn ?" he asked, for want of something better to say.
"Please step into the other room and count them for yourself, Hugh," she quickly told him.

"You can use the connecting door if you wish, instead of passing around by way of the hall." Hugh came back a minute later.

His face was very grave.
"It is just as you told me, ma'am," he remarked, softly, at the same time shaking his head, as though he could not bring himself to believe it was as bad as the old lady suspected; that there must be some other and reasonable explanation for the vanishing of the spoons; surely Owen Dugdale could not be guilty of such a base theft! "What can I believe, Hugh ?" she almost wailed.

"I do not walk in my sleep, and that colored girl is as honest as your own mother, I feel positive.

Please tell me you will try and find out the answer to this distressing puzzle." "I can easily promise you that I will at least do my level best to learn where your property went, Mrs.Pangborn; and if possible recover it for you," he hastened to assure her.
"Thank you very much, my son.