San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-18
cid gloves were an right

trousers that do itf eagerly and gravely
suggested
"Gad! | believe you've hit itr he ex-
claimed, as he bestowed another worship
ing glance on the small checks ''No
woman can resist them But really" he
added. with sublime complacence, 81 cannot
marry all the delightful creatchas; some of
them must be disappointed. P'r'aps they'll
break their hearts and die. But Pm not to
be blamed for that They should not fall in
love with me-"
"They should not, indeed" emphatically
responded.
'When will you get me the ring?" he
added, quite fiattered by my words
"Oh, that depends very much on the cum
ming and determination of the thief. You
say she took it from you and refused to give
it upT
"Yes, something like that" he uneasily
answered: "and it cost me a1O, and that's
too much to lose"
swell, you know, when woman sets her
heart on thing she generally succeeds, so !
shall probably not get the ring at all. She'll
have it safely hidden, I've no doubt, but we
can take her and punish her for the theft. l
suppose you told her you were coming here
to lodge the charge"
"Yes, but the cunning jade wouldn't be-
lieve me. It's not easy getting woman to
believe you're in earnest" he added with a
look of experience and another loving nibble
at his cane knob. "What will be her sentence
for stealing that ringf'
"Oh, p'r'aps thirty days. Has she ever been
here beforeF'
"Oh, no; she's respectable, you know"
Strange, then, that she should refuse to
give up the ring P'r'aps you've made love
to her, thought
"Never, never-'pon honor" he bolster
ously answered, with delighted chuclzle,
however, which implied that making love
to simple girls and then repudiating it was
the most noble occupation in the world
''She'll very likely tell you some fine story,
but you'll not believe here" he anxiously
added.
81 have nothing to do with her story or
yours. You swear that she stole the ring
from you, and | have simply to recover that
and have the thief punished"
That's it exactly" he responded, with
forced exuberance ''Women are such liars
no one would believe them," and he
twirled the en,is of his pretty mustache and
looked all around the room, evidently i'll
search of a mirror, before which to arrange
himself before leaving. Then, finding none,
he airily babe me good day, and strutted out
# the place, wagging his coat tails behind
tim, much as woman might do with new
dress, or q peacock with a new tail
AM lour or two later we 1t out to McNabs,
a large dreSsmakiug and tailoring place, and
asked for Nelly Stephens, the machinist, but
was told that she had just gone to dinner.
None of those about the place seemed to
know very well where she lodged, till one of
the girls said:
ASK John epkins; he's sure to know"
"Why is he sure to knowF l asked after
the girl had explained that Jenkins was one
of the working tailors.
because he's always running after her
though she Wilma look at him" answered the
girl, with a bright smile, which told more
than her words.
found Jenkins in the hot and steamy
workshop He was a plain looking, pallid
faced fellow, and clothed in such ragged
working things that it was absolutely a mar
vel how he got into them He looked up
with a start when | asked for Nelly Ste
phens' address, and he appeared to know me
and my profession, for the scared look deep
ened and his brow became more clouded. He
gave the address, however, and merely
added:
Nothing wrong, hopper to which made
no audible reply. Nelly had no parents, h
said, and depended entirely upon her ow,
hands for support
But s'pose she expects to be- grand lady
some day, and get rid of all that" he bitterly
added to which also made no answer
The house in WHICH the girl lodged was out
| at Simon square. | found her seated in the
kitchen, beside her landlady, with basin of
bread and milk, to which little warm water
and sugar had been added, on her knee. She
was a pretty girl, and looked more beautiful
as she blushed and put aside her dinner and
| led me to an empty room next to the kitchen.
| A fine gold ring, set with gems, sparkled on
the fourth finger of her left hand. AS soon
as We we're in the parlor and the door closed,
| said: .~ -...-......-.
IL want to see that ring on your finger"
| She started back and covered the ring on
her finger with her right hand, as if to guard
| it from every attack.
You are not-not one of the police?" she
slowly faltered at last.
81 am, and you are charged with stealing
gem ring from IA gentleman" and
coughed, as the word nearly choked me, "a
gentleman named Horace Ravensberg."
mo, mol no. with stealing itw she passion
ately exclaimed. HE could not say l
stole itr'
'You did not buy it, did you?"
"No; he bought it and gave it me when
when"- and bushes had to supply the words,
1--WE were engaged"
HE gave it you9 Was there any one pres
ent at the time?"
''Oh, no; but he cannot mean to say that he