The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-14

arrest. When he assumed an air OF in-
noccnce, and asked what crime was
charged against him, he was Informed
without delay that he was accused OF
stealing the ring from the neck of the
statue.
They searched him with great show
of care, but Pinney noticed that not one
of them tried to find the ring. Incred-
ible as il seemed, he was convinced that
each one of them shrank from touch
ing the ill-fated bauble, and wished to
shift the curse of il upon soms COM
rade. Failing to find il upon the pris-
oner, they searched the room in the
same cowardly fashion. Naturally the
ring was not found.
There was brief consultation. which
resulted in Pinney's being taken be-
fore a high police official. He was
charged with the crime, but he stoutly
protested his innocence. Then he was
thrust into n cell, where he remained
nearly all day. Finally he was brought
once more before the official, who was
backed on this occasion by a much more
magnificent parsonage, whom Pinney
took to be direct representative of the
crown.
The proceedings were conducted in
Spanish, and he had little idea what was
done; but at last minor official took
him in charge, and informed him tnat
his guilt had not been proven. II had
been decided, however, TO send him out
Of the country. The speaker had been
detailed to conduct him TO n seaport,
whence he would be sent to America.
This lcnency, he was given to under
stand, was shown TO him because he was
m American. The relations between
the two countries being unhappily
somewhat strained, il was felt by the
authorities that no severity ought to
be shown In either toward the citizens
| of the other.
TIL officers manner when he spoke
these words was so palpably insincere
| that Pinney was heartily terrified. He
believed that this leniency was a mask
for some unspeakable vengeance, and
| that he would never reach the coast
| alive. He had heard. of the ruses by
| which prisoners are shown an apparent
| chance to escape, and are shot down at
the first step. No such trick should be
| PLAYED upon him, he told himself; and,
rs a matter of fact, he stuck closer than
brother to his escort during the jour-
ney to the coast
| At last he found himself on the deck
| of a steam vessel that was bound for
| New York The ring was still in the
| heel of his shoe. His escort bade him
| n courteous farewell. and went over the
| side into n waiting boat. Pinney was
| utterly dazed. Was il possible that
| Spanish superstition went so far that
even the highest officials welcomed the
chance 10 get the ill-fated ring out of
the country? At any rate, he had it;
and his fortune was made.
He had been informed that his pes
sage to America had been paid, and that
n stateroom had been assigned TO him.
Like n man in a dream, he went below,
and in his stateroom, by the light that
came through the open port, he gazed
once more upon the burning jewels OF
the ring.
Some one shook the door. Pinney
hastily thrust the ring into his pocket,
and responded to the summons. To
his great surprise Braydon entered. He
had supposed that the man was deod.
Every question that he had asked about
Braydon had been answered evasvely,
vet i'm such a way as to leave the impress
sion that his fate had overtalien him.
"Oh, I'm no ghost" was Braydon's
greeting. "That bullet went through
my hat, and trimmed my hair little,
but it was fear that knocked me over"
Heaven knows I'm glad to see YOU"
cried Pinney, though 1T costs Inc hall
my fortune"
"What do you mean?"
al mean the ring" whispered Pinney.
'I've got it, Doc, and we're rich"
"Let me sec it," said Braydon.
Pinney took il from his pocket. Bray
ION snatched it, and made motion to
throw il through the portfolio; but the
other grasped his arm.
"Why, you madman,' gasped Pinney,
"are YOU still superstitious? Do you
still believe"
ooh, nonsense, Pinney," said Braydon
wearily. I'm on TO the whole business
now. The man that brought me down
here told me everything That ring is
bogus. The real ring has gone into the
bottomcss treasury of Spain long ago.
They've had n fake ring on the statue
for don't know how long, and It's
been stolen over and over again. That
doesn't mike any difference. They
have n CARLOAD of models like this. and
every time one is taken, they hang up
another. There was one on the neck OF
the statue. when / passed it yesterday,
after my arrest. And the worst of IL IS
that we were the only two crooks in
Spnin who did not know IL. Protected
by superstition What fake! Wly'
every fly man in the kingdom has been
on 10 the fact that that ring wasn't
worth five cents, ever since the day after
IL was first hung UP. Only the ignorant
and superstitious believe in 1t, and the
authorities work the trick 10 please
them"