The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-22
The Missing Ring.

said to noted detective.
Yes, sir--strange, and sometimes
romantic" he replied.
If you will give me the facts for a
short story will put them in print" /
rejoined.
He reflected little, and then remark
ed that he recollected some curious incl
dents that he thought would interest
me-
expressed q strong desire to have
them related, and he at once proceeded
to tell me what have here written
down, word for word:
Some three years ago he began), /
was sitting alone In my office, when a
fine-looking, well-dressed stranger, about
twenty.eight or thirty years of age, en-
tered, and asked to see Mr. Carbon, the
detective.
81 am the person named, and at your
service, sir" replied. "Please be
seated"
:" do not wish to be interrupted in
what L propose to tell you," he said,
glancing around, "nor do i wish to
have any listener except yourself"
arose and locked the door.
He hesitated little, colored some, and
and then said
From my air of mystery, I suppose
you think have something to relate of
great Importance; but though 1t is i'm.
portant to me, and will be to you, If you
trace out the real facts, yet assure you,
to begin with, it is nothing more serious
than the loss of diamond ring. The
ring, however, prize far beyond its
nominal value, as an heirloom of the
family, which has come down to me
through several generations, it being
presented to one of my ancestors by the
then Duke of Cambridge.
"This ring" he proceeded, "came
into my possession, as the lineal heir,
on my twenty-frst birthday and
though have since worn it at times,
L have always watched it with the most
jealous care, and never left it out of my
sight, except when locked in my safe,
where keep my most important papers
and few valuables.
Now comes the mystery. My safe
has q combination lock, and that COM
bination not living soul knows except
myself-not even my wife. will take
my Bible oath, that the last time had
the ring showing it to friend, return
ed 1t to the safe. That was week ago
to-day; and when i yesterday unlocked
the safe to get private paper, 1 missed
the ring from the little iron box, where
1 always keep it. Startled at this,
began search for it. First locking my
room door, that might not be disturb
ed, took out everything in the safe,
and examined every spot and paper
with the utmost care, but without find
ing the precious jewel, and then put
everything back in its proper place.
The ring was the only thing missing,
and 1 found that nothing else had been
disturbed. The loss of the ring grieves
me, and the mystery perplexes me; and
so, not knowing better what to do,
have come to you, to see if you can
suggest anything to relieve me. Under
stand that 1 intend to pay you well for
your advice; and, if you succeed in re-
covering the ring, your reward shall be
two thousand dollars"
"Was the ring indeed SO valuable as
that ?" asked.
Intrinsically, no." he answered !;
"and yet, to me, invaluable for the
reasons have named. The actual cash
value of the diamond would not exceed
a thousand dollars, and yet 1 would give
five thousand-nay, ten thousand
rather than lose it. Besides, there runs
legend in the family, that whoever
parts with it will suffer some great mis-
fortune"
"You had it week ago, you say
you showed it to friend-you locked it
up in your safe-and you have not seen
it since ?"
That is my statement"
"Who was the friend to whom you
showed the ring? ?"
"The Honorable Godfrey Percy, the
JounSest eon Vi Ill CnSHeh HoOleAah,
who has been spending a couple of
weeks at my house as my guest"
''Is he with you still ?'
He is. will be frank with you.-
My sister and 1 met him in London a
couple years ago, and he is engaged to
her, and will remain my guest till after
the wedding, which is fixed for a week
from to-day"
Was he with you when you locked
the ring in the safe 2"