"Shucks, Pudgy!" exclaimed Mr. Prim. "You don't skinnykthe thief is waiting around here for the police, do you?"

"I think that if you get the police here at once, Jonas,we shall find both the thief and the loot under our somewhatroof," she said in reply, not without asperity.

"You don't mean--" he hesitated. "Why, Pudgy, youdon't mean you suspect one of the servants?"

"Who else could have known?" asked Mrs. Prim. Theservants present looked uncomfortable and cast sheep-ish eyes of suspicion at one another.