West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-05-07

before j noticed that the diamond ring
which constantly wore ON the third
finger of my lcf, hand was missing
IL was little too large for me; but
had not thought il advisable to
have the size altered Just vet:
and the result was that it slipped from
my finger. knew that | wore il when
| left my hotel, but | could not recol-
lect noticing its presence at any suisse
quent times 40 | went TO every place
had visited since | came ont. the cafe
where had dined, the shop where
had boughtSome cigars. the streets had
! traversed, looking everywhere for some
trace of my lost jewel. and inquiring
of every one To whom had previously
/. spoken IL they had seen ANYTHING of il.
felt dreary conviction that my treas
ured ornament was gone forever, when.
as "A last resource. went TO bureau
de police and gave a description of the
lost ring to the officer there The
officer was polite, but gave me small
hope of ever seeing my diamond again.
| gave 1t up as gone forever.
| was sitting i'm my hotel dull and de-
! pressed, angry at my own carclessncss,
and inclined to give upany further holt
day and forget my annoyance by n
! speedy return to my professional du-
ties IN London when my friend Of the
! policc-oilice entered.
81 am happy he said. bowling politely
/ and smiling with. as | thought, antici-
/ patton of handsome reward; IL am
happy to inform monsieur thai we hope
soon to place his rlng.in his hands. One
answering to the description YOU gave
was brought TO our Office by the finder
"A countryman of your own. The ring
| being rather an uncommon one, felt
assured that II could be no other than
the one you had lost You described il,
think, as consisting of five diamonds
set in the shape of violet. with a
smaller brilliant in the center--a very
curious and valuable jewel"
Yes, that's it, replied CURLY. won
dering why he could not give me back
my property without so many words.
Then | may safely assume that this
is the ring in question:" He brought
out my ring from his pocket and showed
IL to me.
ut is, said stretching out my hand;
| but he did not restore the Jewel. only
! stood there holding it and smiling more
than ever. | supposed that he wanted
to see some sign of the reward he ex-
| pected to receive before parting with the
| trinket. | took out my purse, and
opening it, made some remark about
showing my appreciation of his honesty;
but he shook his head, smiling, if
possible, more broadly than before.
'Do YOU not wish to know, monsieur,
how your ring was found?" he asked,
with leer which | thought was disa-
greeablc.
well, how was it found?' | said.
tartly.
My policeman drew himself up to de-
liver his great effect Monsieur. your
ring was found in another man
pocket | stared at him i'm bcwider-
mcnt, mingled with an indefinite fear,
while he continued his narrative i'm "A
less courteous and more confidential
tone than he had hitherto assumed.
"Ah, mon ami, one may be too clever;
ones dexterity may lead one astrav
If it be not balanced by discrc-
ton. You had not long left the
office when another Englishman came
IN complaining that he had lost peck
et-book containing all his money. He
had put his hand i'm his pocket TO
bring 1t out, meaning to pay for some
thing, but found it gone. and in its
place diamond ring your ring. For
my own part, | do not doubt your hon
esty-even your generosity. You be-
licved, doubtless. that exchange is not
robbery, and. that in leaving your ring
IN exchange for his pOrtemonnaie, YOU
would at once obtain a memento of a
compatriOt and do him practical bene-
fit. That is the Interpretation | should
wish to put on the affair; but the owner
of the pocket-book will not see il i'm that
lght-he lacks Imagination, as so many
English do. OF course, your coming to
ask us to try to recover your lost ring
tends TO give color to his version of the
matter, which is, that while YOU were
robbing him Of his money the RIM.
slipped from your hand and remained
IN his pocket and, with lack of SYM
pathy for cOuntryman which | grieve
To recount, he demands that YOU should
be arreStcd-a duty which | am re-
luctantly compelled TO fulfill"
l was absolutely dumb with surprise
and anger. Had had my wits about
me might though circumstances
were against me Shave brought some
counter charges OF theft against nv ac-
cuser. but ! was so StuDehed by the
strange turn events had taken. that
submitted mcekly TO be searched. to
have the fatcful poCkct-book taken
from me and TO be led away to prison.
Somehow, too, / was unable 10 secure
possession of the ring that was the cause
of my undoing, and ] have not seen it
since my arrest
So here ] sit in my cell, depressed
and weary a victim to the bittercst
self-reproach ! could almost wish 10
be- condemned to lifelong impr.onmcn
for what is freedom to me? After such
a piece Of suicidal folly as have been
guilty Of, / shall never dare 10 lin up
my head among my professional broth
rem. and fear that nothing will bc left
for me but TO take To honesty when my
term expires. ~ j. D0jly Nuns.
Fire Customs in China.
r., "a,