St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-07-27
edupon seeing everything, and fitted
from spot to spot.

She rummaged among the curiosi-
ties in the museum, tossed about
the volumes in the library, and chas-
ed the goldfish in their big glass bowl
with her hands in the water.
Walter Stewart noticed that she
wore a magnificent diamond ring,
remarkable from its size and peculiar
setting. Cleaning through the wat
er, itgavehim the unpleasant impress
sion of gnome's eye, of which he
had been reading in one of Hof-
manns wild, weird tales the night
before.
But Miss Lands soon tired of her
sport with the goldfish which she
had scared out of their senses. Her
attention was attracted by mon
strous stuffed alligator, which, with
wide-open jaws, reposed under the
table on which the globe of fish was
placed.
She gave an affected little scream.
20 what an awful monster And
J i'm writes from Louisiana that they
eat little children whenever they get
chance. What monstrous jaws,
big enough to swallow me whole
Wouldn't it be fun to write to Jim
that I've had my head in an alliga-
tors jaws? Wouldn't he be scared,
for he'd think it was alive. I'm 60
ing to do it," and she pulled off her
hat
you had better not, Jennie" said
one of the ladies. You'll muss your
hair, and it looks dreadtully dusty
in those awful jaws.
eyes, l will"
With a laugh, Miss Jennie got
down on her knees, and thrust her
pretty bloude head in the gaping
mouth. Something there caught
one of her curls, and she screamed
until she drew her head out, looking
rather paler than when she put it in.
at felt as if the alligator had snap
ped at me ~ she cried. ITS given
me the shivers. Let's get away"
They left the room, and as the
young lady was drawing on her
glove at the front door, she uttered
a 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 alliga
tor to rights. "Oh, here's the young
man who showed us about Have
YOU seen anything, sir, of my
diamond ring?"
Il have not" Walter said" but
we will look everywhere. You re
member where you went, and W.
will return and make thorough
search"
! you're dreadfully careless, Jen
, ME !" one of the ladies cried, angrily
"When did you see the ring last ?"
"Oh, when l took off my glove tt
play with the goldfish, I'm sure
took the ring off and laid it on tn
side of the table. | never put tina
ring in water, and I'm certain | too
, it off then. always do. We shall b
sure to find it there"
They hurried back, but no ring wa
: to be found.
, Pm certain l put ii right here
the girl cried, with burst OF angr
, tears. Somebody must have stole
it,"
t you are mistaken in thinking 20
took off the ring" Walter Stewar
, said. II remember now noticing
in the water, as you were playin
t with the fish,"
| "It'sno such thing" she cried rude
| ". IF l had dropped it in tn
e water, it would be there now, an
e we can see to the bottom of tn
f globe. put it here, and it's gone.
1--WE left you in the room, sir,
said the lady, with a suspicion
S glance at Walter.
He turned as white as death a
D the insult conveyed in her tone.
: 1--WE will make thorough search
0 if you please, madam" he said, COLI
a ly. "The ring cannot be lost"
n They retraced their steps to TT
e library, and revisited every spo
d turned over the objects in II
e museum Miss Jennie had touche
e and examined the alligator's jaw
d The girl was weeping bitterly nov
and her relatives, vulgar people the
If were, were loud and vehement
e their assertions that the ring ha
t been stolen-Jennie's engagement
l. ring. worth four hundred dollars
n They requested to see Colonel Hard
t. and he listened to their story with
is stern face and set lips.
81 will have a thorough scare
IS and investigation of the matte
e, ladies, he said, when they had fms
d ed. "If the ring was lost here,
l. will be found and restored to you
Of The next day young man,
S brother of the owner of the rim
% called at the university to ask if an
m thing had been heard Of it. Colon
s. Hardy was in his Office with Sc
s eral of the cadets.
1T "The search is still going on, sir
t. he answered, so far fruitlessly, b
am having every object in t
I rooms moved and examined"
re You'd better employ a detecti,
as think" the man answered, snet
% ingly. "My sister is ready to swe