The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-18

Of affairs. The search, however, revealed
no trace of the money but It brought to
light something which puzzled him a little
a ladY's ruby ring.
Leo, at the exposure of the trinket, for
the first time lost his dull apathy.
In reply to the policeman's question 20
Mr.. Havland, "ls this part of the stolen
propertyp his eyes lit up with glow Of in
telligence his face flushing as not even the
indignity Of the search had made It.
mo, nor he cried, Il have stolen moth
ing, least Of all that
And he made movement as II to snatch
back his treasure, but 81, who. on Mr..
Hsvilands shaking his head in reply to his
question, had been turning the ring over
critically drew back bis hand. "Ah, don't
take IL away" added Leo, thinking Of the
great price he had paid in order TO retain it
for his little love, for had he disposed Of 1t
to supply the means necessary for their
marriage, be would not have placed him
self in Royals power, and would not, there
fore. have been accused of the crime now
placed upon him. Don't take it away!
it isn't mine! 1t belongs to"
He paused, not daring to say more, for he
felt Royals eyes upon MIN, and be feared
to breathe even Nell's name before him,
while already be dreaded to think that the
ring might by and by betray his relations
| with her. in which case she might still come
under the ban of his now declared enemy,
to say nothing OF the drop of bitterness
| which would be added to her cup OF sorrow
at the failure Of her plans when she found
| herself deprived Of this only clew TO find
her father and for naught.
Poor lad, he felt in this thing which
touched so nearly his little sweetheart, as il
fate could indeed have no new pain in store
for him. But chance, as well as Royal, was
against him.
B 81 bestowed the ring carefully in his
POCKET, saying as he did so, in a tone which
had quite lost its former kindness: "Have
q care young man! WHAT you say soall
be obliged to take down as evidence against
you"
What do you meanm asked Royal, as
Leo stood silent.
THAT Just as l left the station Sir Law
renee sent in description OF this ring. /
know it by the initials E. R.'-tRutherford
was the maiden ma ue OF Nellie's mother -
| as having been lost or stolen from his
| 1aughter-at any rate, likely to be recovs
cred from pawnbroker's OF jewelers."
Mr.. Haviland now regarded Leo with abb
solute ferocity. Royal had some difficulty
in expressing his delight at this charge,
while his victim was utterly astounded at
| this last coup OF fate, which seemed to him
actually due TO supernatural agency.
II tell you there is some mistake,n he
gasped, but he could say no more. The
stern accusing faces around him seemed
like stone wall, against which his helpless
innocence dashed itself in vain.
The agony OF that moment wal very great
to him. but greater to the author of all the
evil.
In his hiding place within the safe. the
Rat had listened with increasing pain to
the accusation of The lad, pain which had
become almost more than he could bear,
when by the recognition OF his dead wife's
ring, his ohild's acknowledged love token,
he recognized, too, her lover. But not, OF
course, Leo as Royals scapegoat.
For a moment the terrible complication
Of affairs almost pAralyzed his powers of
thought; aud even when he reused himself
to face the evil, he was Mortified at the con-
seriousness Of his helplessnesS which forced
itself upon him.
The knowledge of the lads suffering told
in his broken accents, his evident desire to
shield Nellie from sorrow by the loss of the
token, aud the disgrace which must be his
| mads him appear 30 noble, that to know
he was suffering so unjustly must have
aroused admiration and pity in any manly
heart. To the father, the remembrance of
his daughters love was more than sacred.
Before compromising this, the Rat had
given way to his helplessness i'll the nature
| of the lads rescue, but now he admitted no
such word as 'impossibility."
He said to himself: MY child's lover
shall not suffer this new injustice. / must,
will save him!"
He did.
Hopeless as seemed the task at first sight,
the resolve once taken, chance favored its
| fulfillment.'
But not before Leo had suffered yet new
| pain.
Royal broke the silence succeeding the
finding of the ring, by asking sharply OF
the policeman: What are you waiting
| forr'
II wish to see Miss Huntingford, to
| know from her whether or ho the ring is
| hers"
There is no need for that" said Royal,
| who never tor moE emit dreamed of the true
state of affairs. He thought of the police
mans idea of its connection with the baro-
nets dauG ter was merely accidental, but
wished all the same to settle the matter at
once. There is a mistake. l fesl sure; for
in what way could Mr.. Forester be- pos
sessed Of Miss Huntinford's ring? He denies
even knowing her Besides" as the D lice
man hesitate d, 1.-THE girl is blind, SO she cans
not identity IL.
AT least she can answer TO the descrip-
ton, said b u, irr esolutely, the case being
apparently so great mystery that he Was
beginning to fear for his credit in it.
But Wilson had already obeyed Mr. Havi-
lands order to call MISS Huntingford, the
old gentleman clinginE to a hope that her
presence In the matter, as 80 near a relation
| OF Sir Lawrence, might be In his favor in
case things turned out badly for him.
AS the policeman spoke, Nellie entered
the room, guided by the nurse whom her
father had sent tor from her other home
both to reassure her, and that she might
not betray too much of the story of her
past to a stranger. She had not gone to
bed, but had spent the time in feeling her
way carefully about her room, trying in
her blind fashion to take in all its details
to know her home, but though she still
| wore the simple convent school frock, which
supported her fathers story of her having
just arrived from abroad, there was hardly
one in the room who did not acknowledge
! that, despite her childishuess and affection,
she was a daughter of whom Sir Lawrence
might justly be proud. her grace and charm
OF manner, above all her sweet fair face
and silvery voice. stamping her at once as
OF gentle birth and breeding.
1t will, of course, be remembered that
the Rat was a near blood relation Of the
man he represented, ana possessed Of far
more refined nature aud no mean attributes.
But even had she not won allegiance at
once from her fathers friends aud servants,
saving, OF course, Royal. whose gaze, could
IL have lnstilled poison into her veins,