The $500 Check — page 198: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MIDNIGHT VISIT TO THE PANTRY. 179 house?’’ asked Silas. ‘‘The doors were locked, weren’ t they a2. ‘“ Yes, Silas. In forty years I have never failed to lock the door before I went to bed.”’ ‘*'Then I don’t see——’ ‘*Nor I—yet!’’ said Mrs. Wilson signifi- cantly, and Bert thought—but he may have been mistaken—that her eyes turned for a mo- ment in his direction. ‘‘Atany rate it isn’t much ofaloss. Was there anything else in the closet?” ‘‘ There were some doughnuts and beans.’’ ‘* Were any of them taken ?”’ ‘*No, not that I can see.”’ ‘Cats don’t care for them.”’ —*Ton’t be a fool, Silas! That poor cat had no more to do with the robbery than I have.’ ‘‘Mebbe you're right; but cats have been known to steal. I like dogs better myself.’’ ‘*T don’t!” cried Mrs. Wilson with em- phasis. ‘‘?m not going to have any dog trapesing over my floors with his muddy feet.”’ ‘* Just as you like, Sophia. You'd better lock the pantry door in future,”’ <S GOmichoo