The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-03-23

!
she cried cts given me the shivcrs. Let's
get awayr
They left the room and as the young lady
was drawing on her glove at the front door,
she uttered loud exclamation.
"My ring I've lost my ring"
| Walter Stewart at that moment came from
the museum, where he had been putting the
shaken alligator to rights. "Oh here's the
young man who showed US about Have
you seen anything sir, of my diamond ring"
81 have not" Walter said "but will look
everywhere You remember where you went,
and we will return and make thorough
search"
you're dreadfully careless, Jenuie!" one
of The ladies cried, angrily. When did you
see the ring last?"
"Oh, when l took off my glove to play
with the goldfish. Pm sure took the ring
of, and laid it on the side of the table. never
put that ring in water, and I'm certain |
took it off then. always do. We shall be
sure 10 find it there"
They hurried back, but no ring was 10 be
| found.
"Im certain laid it right here !" the girl
cried, with burst of angry tears. Some
body must have stolen it,"
"You are mistaken in thinking you took
off the ring" Walter Stewart said al remem-
I'll
playing with the fish"
"It's no such thing - she cried, rudely. "If
| had dropped it in the water, ii would be
there now, and we can see to the bottom of
the globe. put 1t here, and it's gone"
I'VE left you in the room, sir" said the lady.
with suspicious glance at Walter.
He turned as white as death, ut the insult
conveyed in her tone
I'VE will make thorough search If you
please, madam" he said cOldly. THE ring
cannot be lost"
They rctraced their steps to the library,
and revisited every spot, turned over the OBJ
jects in the museum Miss Jennie had touch
ed, and examined the alligator's jaws The
girl was weeping bitterly now, and her rela-
tives, vulgar people they were, were loud
and vehement 10 their assertions that the
ring had been stolen-Jennie's engagement
ring worth four hundred dollars They re.
quested to see Colonel Hardy, and he listen
ed to their story with stern face and set
lips.
81 will have thorough search and investiga-
ton of the matter, ladies" he said when they
Ind finished "lf the ring WAS lost here, it
will be found and restored to you
The next day young man, 4 brother OF
the owner of the ring, called at the university
to ask if anything had been heard of it, Col
oncl Hardy was in his Office with several ca
diets.
"'rhc search is going on, sir, )" be answered,
80 far truitlessly, but am having every Oh
ject in the rooms moved and examined"
you'd better employ detective, Think"
the man answered sneeringly. My sister is
ready to swear she took off her ring and laid
it on the table by the globe of goldfish"
She was mistaken sir" Walter Stewart
aail OF fnrw ori a.
day, and waited on the ladies. l remember
noticing the fash OF the diamond in the
water"
"Cadet Stewart is confident of that fact"
Colonel Hardy said.
stewart, repeated the young man, with
keen look at Walter, then lowering his voice,
sis he the son of the convict Stewart?"
Colonel Hardy coldly nodded his head
Low as the question was asked, Walter
Stewart heard it, and with swelling heart
walked to distant window and looked out,
his miserable eyes seeing nothing before
them.
He was ofllcerof the day, was hcY" with
nd inselent laugh, "Ah, well, dare say the
ring will be found, as ii WAS positively drop
ped in this building. II you fail, Colonel
haps may be luckier."
With last supicious look at Walter Stew
art, he took his departure.
That night the classmates Of Cadet Stew
art held meeting.
"Those people believe he took the ring"
Stacey asserted, "and Colonel Hardy must
force him 10 resign. We must send deputa-
ton to ask him to do So !, for one, will not
stay another week if Stewart remains here
Even if he really did not take the ring, don't |
you see it's against the university to keep
cadet who can be suspected of doing such Il
disgraceiul act"
But Walter Stewart anticipated them, by
rendering his resignation that night.
" will remain until the search for the ring |,
is over, Colonel Hardy" he said. "If it is |
not found, will ask a strict investigation, to |
establish my innocence. But every one sus-
poets me-" he cried, throwing out his hands |
with despairiug gesture II am powerless I!
to stem the prejudice against me. 1t will |
cling to me through all my wre,ched life. l |
am branded, and every one can read the |
brand on my forehead"
He hurried out ofthe room, paying no at |
tention to Colonel Hardy's call to him to
stop.
"That boy is desperate" Colonel Hardy |
said TO Mr.. Fearing, who had witnessed the .
interview, his heart full of pity and sympathy |
for tie unhappy youth. Pm going to fol- |
low nm, Tor lie IS nall mad.
The night was not dark, and Colonel Hardy |
had no trouble in following and watching |
the movements OF the young man, who was |
walking rapidly toward the river. But he !
was taken ny surprise, for without pause,
Walter raised his clenched fist toward |
heaven and sprang into the water. Throw
ing off his coat, Colonel Hardy, an expert |
swimmer threw himselfinto the river, and
US the young man rose, seized him by the col. |
lar, aud in few minutes they were both on |
shore.
But even when he was placed in warm
bed aud every means used TO resuscitate him, |
Walter did not recover consciousness He |
had struck against floating log in making |
the fatal leap, and his injuries were severe |
enough to make the physicians look very
gave. On the third day he opened his eyes,
and they rested on the kind face of Mr.. Fear |
ing, who had constantly attended him from !
the hour he was laid ON that bed
"l'm very ill.," he said family.
"Oh, you're better now" Mr. Fearing said |
briskly. "You mustn't talk or ask questions"
He lay few minutes silent, and then he said,
suddenly, u remember all !"
eyes yes, of course You were little bit
crazy about that COMPOUNDED ring. But it's
been found. That girl, in twisting and hust-
ling around, got il away down the aligator's
throat. Colonel Hardy found it, and he sent
it to the owner with note guess she'll re-
member all the days of her life. All you've
got to do Is to get we'll"
Walter, 10 Mr.. Fearings surprise, showed
no pleasure at this news In fact, his next
words were irrelevant
81 don't want my mother to know has any
one told her i was ill.,"
No one had written yet. Ifhe grew worse
she was 10 be sent for
mo, no; she must never know. If she
comes, she will find out what made me com. I
nit that mad act. Poor mother was a
mad man that night. God will weigh all
things, and am not afraid"
"You are getting well, my boy" Mr.. Fear
ing cried. "Your dark days are over forever"
Eyes, think SC" with little, falut smile,
lover forever; but not here. You see, it's
better SO, sir. know you wanted to be my
friend, but even you couldn't have taken
away the ban. 1t seems hard and strange,
but | shall be wiser before long Yes, yes;