The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-11-14

SOME queer ring Wnlcn MISS lnOTpc
had repeatedly asked to be allowed to
wear, and which request he had re-
peatedly and consistently declined to
grant, giving as reason for so doing,
If remember rightly, that he was su-
pcrstitious and that he had been warn
ed never To remove that ring from his
finger. Clayton's avowal greatly an
gered Holmes. He could not, in view
of very recent and All unusually
warm parting with the lady, believe
that she had made any such promise.
But knowing her great desire to pos
sess the ring, Ciayton's allusion to the
jewel showed that she had spoken 10
his rival on the subject, and this, per-
haps, in some disdainful way. This
flashed through Holmes mind in a
moment, then, jerking the jewel from
his finger, he flung it upon the table,
| saying:
Ifshe can be bought for bauble,
permit me TO aid you in your purchase
With this he left the club and the two
men have never met since In fact,
none of his acquaintences have heard
of Clayton since the morning of the
day following the episode One day
later Miss Thorpe's engagement TO
Holmes was announced
''How very singularr' exclaimed
Clyde. ''How do you account for it?''
"Why attempt to account for that
which from the first appeared inexpli-
cable? / firmly believe that Clayton
told the truth when he made his state
ment respecting the ring. i also be-
lieve that in n fit Of temper Holmes
threw him the jewel. From this it is
natural to conclude that Clayton lost
no time in bearing the trophy To the
woman he loved-the very being who
had offered him such rare prize for
its possession. Why she rejected him,
how 10 account for his sudden disap-
pearance, how to explain her accept
ance of Holmes are things that | now
have little hopes of learning until
reach that sphere where all is to be
made plain"
''Do you know Mrs Holiness" asked
Clyde
''As Miss Thorpe | knew her quite
well, though was never one of her
slaves Since this affair have simply
been civil to her. Clayton was one Of
my best friends. He was a capital fel-
low and his disappearance has occa-
stoned me much uneasiness. Ii would
be some satisfaction To obtain reliable
information Of hiS death, for dead |
feel that he il, and cannot help but
believe that Holmes and his wife are
in some treacherous way responsible"
'How long ago did this occur" ask
ed Clyde, whose generous, sympathetic
nature re-echoed the sentiments of his
friend.
''Let me see," answered the other.
Then after few moments of mental
calculations: "Just one year and half
ago.
The two men sat and smoked in 81
lence. SwintOn was recalling Clayton
as he last saw him, handsome, full of
life, prosperous, popular and hopeful.
Clyde was saying mentally. THAT
was just about the time joined in Ari-
zona." Then he spoke. ''I.et Us take
goodnight drink to the safe return of
your friend"
with all my heart" was the re-
sponse. ''And do not forget, | shall
call for yOu tomorrow evening to take
you to the Chutney's ball"
Scarcely had the two friends entered
the ball room when Clyde graspcd
Sw.nton's arm and in a strange voice,
and also in an intensely excited man.
ner, said: ''Teil me who that woman
is there? That one. There cannot be
two suci throats and necks in the
worldr
why, manr' exclaimed Swinton
you look as if you had seen ghost;
or perhaps one of your Apaches unex-
pectedly."
''No, no." impatiently answered the
other. Not an Apache, but one that
recalls the tribe vividly 10 me. Tell
me quick"
''Of her many conquests in the past
| can remember none quite so instan-
taneOus," answered Swinton; then,
catching the expression on his friends
face, he replied directly: THAT is Mrs.
H1lmes.r
Mrs. Holmes, Not the wife of the
broker? Not the woman of whom YOU
told me last night" exclaimed Clyde,
exhibiting such increased excitability
that for a moment even the worldly
SwintOn was trifie alarmed.
"My dear fellow" the latter replied
in low and soothing tones, pray calm
yourself You shall know her in n
moment if you wish to-"
''Yes, yes; she above all others. Do
present me at once"
II beg of you not to ask me 10 Otii-
ciate," responded SwintOn in grave
tones. ''I fear that have already lost
one dear friend through that woman.
Do not require me TO be the agency by
which might lose another. But will
arrange it for you, and at once"
\ moment later Clyde was looking
into the face of the woman who had so
strangely moved him.
''Yes, my lady of the locket," he /
said to himself as his thought went |
back to the lonely canon and the dead I
stranger. 'The same superb throat and /
neck, the same divine eOlOring and I
even the little sparkling aigrette. Also /
the same absence of nature, the same I
lack Of soul. Had the artist painted 1
better than he knew ~
When Clyde left the Chutneys that /
evening ii was with Mrs. Holmes per-
to call upon her the following !.
day. Not one word did he say to /
Swinton of his suspicion that the lat
ter's friend, Clayton, and the dead 1
Arizona wenderer were one and the \
same person. But the circumstantantial
evidence was too overwhelming to per- 4
nit OF the vestige of doubt entering 4
his own mind. The time OF ClaytOn's 1
and the finding of the
body, the peculiar ring, with the ini- /