The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-04-01

OAs AL SOe Do
lasEs for ms; bas l had sos ste.us4 j,
advisable 20 hass fhs s;ss al66rv1 iurf
yet; and ths RESULT woe tkat 4 M 49,
from my fngeF knsw that 4 wcrs a
when | left my hoeels ~ I oo1Ia -
recollect noticing its pfsssnss 9 ~ -
seqaent time; 90 / went 70 sssry phss /
had visited sincs eane OF fke eafs
where 1 had dinsd, ~ shop vhsrs ksd
bought some cig1Fs, The streets I had IA
versed, looking svesywheso for son,s trncs
OF my lost jewel, and inQuirinx q svsrv
one toswhom had prsviolslv spokpn z
they had kseen anything q l. lfls .
dreary convicti0n that NV treaanred o.
nament was gone forever, vben. - ~
resource, went to . 6srsos q pokick snd
gave deaeriPsioa Of the risg % sks -
Ger there. The officer W. polits, but
gave me small hope of ever sseinx nv
diamond again. l gave e up = foss
Twas sitting in my hotel dsli sad ds-
pres:ed. angry - ny own cassieasnsss,I
az. ID - Fl : 81 =
return to my professional dufiss Il Ios-
don, when my friend Of the police once
entered.
i am happy" he said, bowing polite
and smiling with, - thought. antici-
patton OF . handsome reward I an
happy to inform monsieur that ne hone
soon to place his ring in his hapds One
answering to the description you gave
was brought to our Office by the finder .
countryman of your own. The ring being
rather an uncommon one, felt assured
that 1t could be no other than the one Won
had lost. You described it, think, a
consisting of Eve diamonds set in the
shape OF violet, with . smaller brilliant
In the centre-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 l may safely assume that this
Is the ring in question ?" He brought
out my ring from his pocket and showed
it to me.
1t is" | said, stretching out nv hand
but he did not restore the level ouIy
stood there, holding it and smiling more
than ever. l supposed he wanted to see
some sign OF the reward he expected 70
receive before parting with the trinket. I
took out my purse, and opening it, made
some remark about showing my apprecia-
ton OF bis honesty; but be shook his
head. smiling, if possible, more broadly
than before.
DO you not wish to know, monsieur.
now your ring was found ?" he asked
with leer which thought was disagree
able.
s. Well, how was it found I said
tartly.
My policeman drew himself ND to de-
liver his great effect. "Monsieur. vour
ring was found in another mans pocket y
l stared at him in bewilderment, min
gicd with an indefinite fear while be con-
tinued has narrative in . less courteous
and more confidential tone than he had
hitherto assumed. "Ah mon ou,i. one
may be too clever; ones dexterity NAV
lead one astray if it be not balanced b1
discretion. You had not long left the
ofhce, when another Englishman came in
complaining that he had lost a pocket
book containing all bis money.
7" He had put his hand in his pocket tn
o!ng it out, meaning to pay for some
sning. out found it gone, and in its place
diamond ring-your ring. For nv own
part, do not doubt your hopestv-even
your generosity. You believed. doubt
less, that exchange is not robbery. and
.na'' In leaving your ring in exchange for
MS porf"'onndie, you would at once OBJ
tam memento of = compatriot and do
him a practical benefit. That is the In
depreciation | should wish to put on the
afiair but the owner OF the pocket-book
VIII not see It In that light-he lacks the
imagination as so many English do. OF
course, your coming to ask us to try 70
recover your lost ring tends to give color
10 MS version of the matter. which Ia.
that while you were robbing him Of bis
money, the ring slipped from your hand.
and remained in his pocket, and with :
iack OF eympathy for . countrvman.
which l grieve to recount, he demands
that you should be arrested, dusy which
l am reluctantly compelled to fuliill.n
l was absolutely dumb with sur,y;.a
ana anger Had l had my wits about
me, l might-though circumstances were
against me-have brought some counter
charge OF theft against my aeeuser /: bat I
was SO stupefied by the strange turn events
had taken, that submitted meekly 70 be
searched, to have the fateful pocket-booE
taken from me, and to be led awav 70 prie-
on. Somehow, too. / was unable 10 secure
possession of the ring that was the cauee
OF my undoing, and ! have NOT seen 4
since my arrest.
So here | cit in my cell, depressed and
weary, victim to the bitterest selfre-
Proacn; l could almost wish to be con-
demned to lifelong imprisonmenf for vhs,
is freedom worth to mef Affe- .,.A
piece of suicidal folly - I have beea
guilty OF, shall never dare to liff nm nv
mead among my professional hrethre1.
and fear that nothing viii be left for
me but to take to honesty when my term
expires Chamber Journal
WHAT no TME DRUo1Hwrm