The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-22

fully locking the door of his room, and
screening the window, he set down by
table and viewed the ring in the light
of u candle. 1t was the most wonder
full piece of jewelers. work that he had
ever seen. The gems shot forth thou
sand glittering rays. 1t seemed to him
that the ring gave more light than the
candle. 1t enchanted his eyes; and
though he believed in his heart that it
had slain his friend that night, and
would cost him his life in the end, he
would not dream of parting with it till
he could transmute it's jewels into gold.
How long he remained with his head
bent over the ring. he could not say. A
rough and grating sound startled him.
He looked up hastily, and saw the land
lord of the inn standing by the open
door. There was a revolver in his hand
and it was pointed at Pinney's head.
The thief remained motionless in his
chair, staring into the black barrel of
the weapon.
The innkeeper closed the door with
his left hand. Then he took two steps
forward. The muzzle of the revolver
was almost touching Pinney's forehead
He pointed down at the ring on the
table.
where did you get that?" he de-
manded. "Give it to mel"
His fingers closed over it.
1T is the ring of Alfonso XII.," said
Pinney, mechanically. Il took 1t from
the statue"
The innkeeper suddenly held up the
ring to the light. Then, uttering an
oath, he threw the ring upon the floor
ami fed from the room.
Not even the death of his friend had
so impressed Jack Pinney as did the
flight of this man. His face proclaimed
him hardened villain. and he had just
proven himself a desperate thief. Yet.
though the jewels in the ring were
worth n dozen fortunes. he dared not
hold it in his hand Il moment.
His cowardiCe is my gain" was Pin
ncy's thought, as he picked up the ring
from the floor. Yet he had grown to
fear the trinket as something accursed,
and he was inwardly prompted to leave
it where It lay.
4 moment later he heard the sound Of
many persons ascending the stairs. A
voice smoke in the Spanish language,
and Pinney did not grasp the meaning;
hut the tone was official. and warned
him that the police We're upon him.
He hastily thrust the ring into the
hiding place which he had prepared in
the heel of his shoe. No sooner had
he rcgained an upright posture than n
little squad of uniformed men forced
their way into the room. One of them
told him in Spanish, and then in fairly
ntelligible English, that he was under
arrest. When he assumed an air of in
nocence, and .sEed what crime was
charged against him, he was informed
without delay that he was accused of
stealing the ring from tho neck of the
statue.
They searched him with a great show
of care, but Pinney noticed that not one
of them tried to find the ring. lncred-
ibie as it seemed, he was convinced that
each one Of them shrank from touch
ing the Inflated bauble. and wished to
shift the curse OF it upon some COM
rade. Failing 10 find it upon the pris-
oner. they searched the room in tbs
same cowardly fashion. Naturally the
ring was not found,
There was brief consultation, which
resulted in Pinncy's being taken be-
fore high police official. He was
charged with the crime, but he stoutly
protested his innocence. Then he was
thrust into q cell. where lie 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 representa-
tive of the crown.
The proceedings We're conducted in
Spanish. and he had little idea what
was done; but at last Il minor official
took him in charge, and Informed him
that his guilt had not been proven. 1t
had been decided, however, to send him
out of the country The speaker had
been detailed to conduct him to Il sea-
port, where he would be sent to
America. This leniency. he was given
to understand, was shown to him be-
cause he was an American. The re-
lations between the two countries be-
ing unhappily somewhat strained, 1t
was felt by the authorities that no
severity ought to be shown in either
toward the citizens of the other.
The officers manner when he spoke
these words was so palpably insinCere
that Pinney was heartily terrified. He
believed chat this leniency was mask