The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-20
THE RIDDLE OF THE
RING.
A Roundabout Romance in Three
Chapters.
BY W. W. FEM, AUTHOR OF "HALF-
HOURS OF BLIND MANS H0L-
IDAY," ETC.
CHAPTER I --(CoNTINUED.)

N~AN = A~~~ WV @AN OA'N'J
Sister? Why, j never knew you had
4 sister,
Eh? no! didn't you? o, dear, yes;
and very pretty she. promises to be, too.
You know when my father died, she and
were simply left paupers; and if this
kind hearted old sister hadn't taken care
Of us; the Union would have been-well,
NAV say that "Union" would have been
our only strength. We owe everything
to nv aunt Scobell. She has made sew
eral efforts to start me in life, but some
how 1 have always managed to disap-
point her. / tried your profession, the
law, tried physic, she would not hear
of the army; and now | am going out, as
/ told YOU, to Quebec, to really fine
thing, which | think will do--at any
rate. it must: for she declared that if |
don't stick to this, she'll throw me off for
good and ALL so mean to turn over a
new leaf, and show, if possible, that am
not ungrateful. No. he added, after
pause, I am not ungrateful; it's my care
iessness and want Of forethought that has
got me into so many scrapes; and you
know. evil is wrought by want Of
thought. as much as want of heart."'
This is all news to me, said Boscombe;
syou never entered into these details be-
FORE
Didn't II Pom my word, it's very
likely; don't remember what | tell, and
what | don't; in fact, it's very little, Pm
afraid, do remember. But, yes, there
is one thing that remember now.
Why, what an ass was not to think OF it
before! am as bad as ever! Why Of
course you are the very man! My aunt
is extremely crotchety; hates doctors and
lawyers; but she asked me If / knew any
one to whom she could apply in the
event of her wanting good legal advice;
q mans opinion, you know, and that sort
of thing. / dare say che wants to make
her will, and you may as well have the
lob as any one else. OF course he went
on, Tll write to her at once, and tell her
all about you. 1 am delighted, my dear
fellow, at the chance Of being able to do
you good turn
As may he CLEANED, Mr.. Boscombe was
A solicitor He had gone to his club to
keep an appointment on business, and
and having transacted it to his satisfac-
ton, was quite willing (the afternoon
being far advanced) to give up the rest
Of the day to his friend, especially as
there seemed prospect of q good con-
neetion opening up out OF the renewal OF
the old acquaintance.
So the friends dined together, and
parted with renewed expressions OF graft
tude to the Fates for having brought
them together so opportunely. 1t was
not till past eleven o'clock that night
that our careless young friend, John
Farley, for the first time, called to mind
that he had not done quite all he had
intended that day; he had forgotten to
take diamond ring to Messrs. Mellish,
which he had promised Mrs. ScobelI to
deposit with those jewelers. for certain
repairs. but the oversight did not spoil
his nights rest. The following morning,
however, whilst at breakfast, he suddenly
remembered that he had left the jewel
In its case in the breast pocket OF his
overnight frock-coat; and this discovery
20 completely interrupted his matutinal
meal that he sprapg up,and, regardless OF
his personal appearance, walked straight
off in his quilted lounging- jacket at an
unusuallt rapid pace to Mr.. Trippers
establishment. That temple of fashion
was quite startled from it's propriety by
the unexpected appearance OF customer
at 80 unreasonable an hour. Foreman
and cutters came from their recesses to
listen to what at least must be something
very important. ;.
valuable ring,' old family relic,
three diamonds read leather case in.
ner breast pocket coat to be altered
Yesterday afternoon fetched bya young
man'-what did it portend? Simply
this-that unless the ring were in the
pocket still, it was lost, or had been
stolen. The unsewn garment was pro-
duced, and there was certainly no ring
in the pocket. Walters, the young man
was sent for; he had not been at work
since tea-time yesterday-'he was a lazy
customer they said-but in a little
while he appeared. He stoutly denied
al knowledge Of the ring; he had not sci
eyes on such a thing; and on being
pressed and threatened, he declared iri
dignantly that the gentleman's rooms
were in such state of confusion thai
most likely the ring was there now; any
body might 90 and see that what he saie
was true. There was no denying thi'
possibility; Farley admitted that thing
were little at skies and sevens, beeaus'
be was going abroad. Then Mr.. Tripper
himself, naturally jealous Of the reputa
ton of his establishment, offered to re
turn with Mr.. Farley to his rooms, ant
aid him in a search, when probably the,
would find the missing article. But th'
moment Mr. Tripper saw the confusion
he demonstrated:
Really sir he said, you must excus
me, but / think it is little hard yol
should SO hastily assume dishonesty ol
the part Of any Of my people; it mus
surely be impossible for you to say posi-
lively, in Che face of this disorder, tina
the ring was in the coat pocket
'Ah, we'll, you may think so,' rejoine,
Farley, but I could have sworn it wai
70 be sure, things are in a bit Of q mes;