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and then all the transfers he made to the different people。 One； was that old white…haired Spaniard with the harelip； who used to come here at the back door； so that he should not be seen at the Department。 But it was before you remember。 The others were in smaller sums。 But the whole thing was done in three weeks； and then the expedition sailed； and papa had enough else to think of； and has never thought of it since； till ten or fifteen days ago； when somebody in the Eleventh Auditor's office discovered this charge； and his receipt for this money。〃
〃Well； dear mamma？〃
〃Well； dear child； that is all； but that now the newspapers have got hold of it； and the Committee on Retrenchment； who are all new men； with their reputations to make； have got hold of it； and some of them really think； you know； that papa has stolen the money！〃 And she broke down crying again。
〃But he can show his accounts； mamma！〃 What are his accounts worth？ He must show the vouchers； as they are called。 He must show these people's receipts； and what has become of these people； what they did with the money。 He must show everything。 Well； when the ‘Copperhead' first spoke of itthat was a fortnight agopapa was really pleased。 For he said it would be a good chance to bring out a piece of war history。 He said that in our Bureau we had never had any credit for the Rio Grande successes； that they were all our thunder； because THEN he could laugh about this horrid thing。 He said the Navy had taken all the boners； while we deserved them all。 And he said if these horrid ‘Copperhead' and ‘Argus' and ‘Scorpion' people would only publish the vouchers half as freely as they published the charges； we should get a little of the credit that was our due。〃
〃Well； mamma； and what is the trouble now？〃
〃Why； papa was so sure that he would do nothing until an official call came。 But on Monday it got into Congress。 That hairy man from the Yellowstone brought in a resolution or something； and the Committee was ordered to inquire。 And when the order came down； papa told Mr。 Waltsingham to bring him the papers； and； Matty； the papers were not there！〃
〃Stolen！〃 cried Matty； understanding the crisis for the first time。
〃Yesperhapsor losthidden somewhere。 You have no idea of the work of those days night work and all that。 Many a time your father did not undress for a week。〃
〃And now he must remember where he put a horrid pile of papers； eleven； twelve years ago。 Mamma； that pile is stolen。 That odious Greenhithe stole it。 He lives in Philadelphia now； and he has put up these newspapers to this lie。〃
Mr。 Greenhithe was an underclerk in the Internal Improvement Bureau； who had shown an amount of attention to Miss Matty； which she had disliked and had refused to receive。 She had always said he was bad and would come to a bad end； and when he was detected in a low trick； selling stationery which he had stolen from the supply room； and was discharged in disgrace； Matty had said it was good enough for him。
These were her reasons for pronouncing at once that he had stolen the vouchers and had started the rumors。
〃I do not know。 Papa does not know。 He hardly tries to guess。 He says either way it is bad。 If the vouchers are stolen； he is in fault； for he is responsible for the archives； if he cannot produce the vouchers； then all the country is down on him for stealing。 I only hope；〃 said poor Mrs。 Molyneux； 〃that they won't say our poor old wagon is a coach and six；〃 and this time she tried to smile。
And now she had told her story。 All last night； while the children were asleep； Mr。 Molyneux had been at the office； even till four o'clock in the morning； taking old dusty piles from their lairs and searching for those wretched vouchers。 And mamma had been waitingshall one not say； had been weeping？here at home。 That was the reason poor papa had looked so haggard at breakfast this morning。
This was all mamma had to tell。 She had been to the office this morning； but papa would not let her stay。 He must see all comers； just as if nothing had happened； was happening； or was going to happen。
Well！ Matty did make her mother take off her jacket and her hat and her gloves。 She even made her drink a glass of wine and lie down。 And then the poor girl retired to her own room； with such appetite as she might for taking the last stitches in worsted work； for stippling in the lights into drawings； for writing the presentation lines in books； and for doing the thousand little niceties in the way of finishing touches which she had promised the children to do for them。
Her dominant feelingyes； it was a dominant passion； as she knewwas simply rage against this miserable Greenhithe； this cowardly sneak who was thus taking his revenge upon her； because she had been so cold to him。 Or was it that he made up to her because he was already in trouble at the Office and hoped she would clear him with her father？ Either way he was a snake and a scorpion； but he had worked out for himself a terrible revenge。 Poor Matty！ She tried to think what she could do； how she could help； for that was the habit of her life。 But this was now hard indeed。 Her mind would not now take that turn。 All that it would turn to was to the wretched and worse than worthless question； what punishment might fall on him for such utter baseness and wickedness。
All the same the children must have their lunch； and they must not know that anything was the matter。 Oh dear！ this concealment was the worst of all！
So they had their lunch。 And poor Matty counselled again； and helped again； and took the last stitches； and mended the last breaks； and waited and wondered； and tried to hope； till at five o'clock an office messenger came up with this message。
4。45 P。M。 DEAR MATTY；I shall not come up to dinner。 There is pressing work here。 Tell mamma not to sit up for me。 I have my key。 I have no chance to get my things for the children。 Will you see to it？ Here is twenty dollars； and if you need more let them send in the bill。 I had only thought of that jig…sawwas it？that Horace wants。 See that the dear fellow has a good one。
Love to all and ever yours；
PAPA。
〃Poor； dear papa；〃 said Matty aloud； shedding tears in spite of herself。 〃To be thinking of jig…saws and children in all this horrid hunt！ As if hunting for anything was not the worst trial of all； always。〃 And at once the brave girl took down her wraps and put on her walking…shoes； that her father's commissions might be met before their six…o'clock dinner。 And she determined that first of all she would meet Tom at the station。
At the station she met Tom； that was well。 Matty had not been charged to secrecy； that was well。 She told him all the story； not without adding her suspicions； and giving him some notion of her rage。
And Tom was angry enough；there was a crumb of comfort there。 But Tom went off on another track。 Tom distrusted the Navy Department。 He had been long enough at Annapolis to doubt the red tape of the bureaus with which his chiefs had to do。 〃If the navy had the money； the navy had the vouchers；〃 that was Tom's theory。 He knew a chief clerk in the navy； and Tom was goin