Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Continued from Thirtieth Page)

taken IL out and forgotten ~ ietuia ~
the drawer. OF course the search was
without result.
Some one has taken It who knew of IT'S
hiding place." said she, and at tnat mo-
ment her eyes rested upon the scared race
of Phil, who. having returned from nis er
rand. WAS standing in the open door. btl
she thought nothing of 1t at the time' al
though remembering it later.
The boys knowledge or the secret naae
him turn hot and for a moment he believed
that she referred to himself Then ne re-
membered that ne had never told any one
of it's whereabouts, SO that she could not
suspect him.
Leaving Madame Dupre in the care OF
Antoinette and Louise, Mrs Monttoy went
downstairs to consult with Mr.. Glover
His first thought when he heard that the
ring was missing was that Bernard had
secured possession Of It,
But that could not be-" said Mrs. Mont
joy. for Antoinette wore 1t the evening OF
the party which We gave for MIR. Harlow,
and that was fully week after Mr.. Dupre
had gone away.
Have you questioned Gyp and Cover?
OF course. Phil does not know where the
ring was kept?'
A shade of suspicion crossed Mrs. Mont
Joys face. NO" thought she, Il cannot
suspect the noble boy who saved Covers
life" and her face softened- Then she said
aloud. Il have not questioned them-and
come to think of 1t, it may have been one
Of Gyps FRANKS She rang the bell, and
requested the servant who answered 1t to
md the CnllO ana SenQ H6r " inc SittAHS
room.
After a quarter of an hours thorough
search Mary Ellen was obliged to return
with the information that Miss Gyp was to
be found neither in the house nor on the
grounds. Her bicycle was missing, too. SO
she surmised that the young lady was
racing over the country. as usual
This surmise true. Gyp had decided
when she reached home after her last en-
counter with the gypsy band, and her fright
had abated that she had been very foolish
not to learn more of Pills supposed MS
tory from the woman who claimed to be
his mother. She determined to satisfy her
curiosity, and had been securing the sur
rounding country on her bicycle, whenever
she could find an opportunity to slip away
unobserved, and she had had several
chances while her brother confined to
the house. She had lost all fear OF the
gypsies now. and the fact that she could
not find them nor hear of them only made
her the more eager in her pursuit.
Cover had gotten away from his grand
mothers room at the first excuse, and with
Phil had gone out of the house and to the
artificial pond, where the boys were ac-
cuatomed to meet and talk over their at
fairs, free from Interruptions.
He was filled with a vague uneasiness.
which made him feel that in some way he
was responsible for the ring. and he want
ed some one else to share that RESPONSE
bility. The two boys had recovered from
their injuries and Phil was expecting to re-
turn to his work, as usual, the following
morning. Cover still lmped a little. more
noticeably when his tutor suggested that
his holiday nearly at end, and he
must get to his studies again.
$50 you went and told where our ruby
ring was kept, after you had promised not
to- he began.
How dare you accuse me of that. Cover
MontJoy?" Phil replied angrily. Il never
told a soul where it was kept You're the
one yourself who did: you told me, and
nobody knows in how many other peoples
faces you've gone around Haunting your
old ruby ring"
Il never told anybody but you, and you
have been taken by some one who knew
just where to look for 1t. for nothing else
was disturbed
Well. you are the only one that I know
room and showed him just where the ring
was kept"
We'll, don't know who else you taught
to slip in the kitchen window. and how to
get to her room, and where to find the"
This was too much. Phil doubled up his
fist and struck furiousIy at his companion.
Cover ducked and missed the blow.
He repented of his passion instantly.
Il m sorry for you that you can't find any,
body TO blame but me. I say once more
that 1 never told any one where the ring
was kept. l am going home now, but I'll
be back In the morning to work"
The other made no reply to this, and Phil
went away, leaving him to nurse his anger
and unjust suspicious
He felt as If he wanted to talk the mat
ter over with some one but knew not
where to turn. As he was passing the
cabin he concluded that he would stop and
tell Nose about the lost ring. 1t was too
early yet for him to have returned from
the fields and he sat down on the shady
porch to await him
The birds were singing joyously; the air
was musical with the humrning bees and
other insects that darted busly hither and
thither. A rabbit peeped around corner
"a t1,nv,
woods. Fits looked I'D at Phil as much as
as to say, Shall / chase htIn?' but re-
celvlng no encouragement. yawned and
stretched his n1uzzls between his paws on
lover of nature failed to respond to the
challenges sent him by her children. He
sat with chin resting in hts hands and his
elbows propped on his knees. He was pom
the meaning that might be made from
them, and he felt sick and cold. He moved
on the porch and sat down by the roadside
IN the sun. The dog followed grudg1ngly
ana lay down beside him. There's some
body that doesn't desert me, isn't there.
Ffts?" said he. as he laid his face on the
dogs side '-e
SO I've found you at last" came In clear
gIrnsn tones. The boy raised his head and
saw Gyp standing at his side
He made no response. Usually she aroused
mis- interest. but today it seemed to him
mat he never cared to see any Of the
Aren't you glad to see me?" she asked.
leaning on her bicycle.
usually am glad to see you. you know
very well. Gyp."
1ou don't look over1oyed." she returned
saucily.
A wan smile crept over Phirs face
Where have you been all this afternoon p.
he asked
Hunting up some friends of mine"
Well. your mothers been hooking FIR
YOU s LUZ
oh, dear! I thought she was asIeen r,r
me?' NeS 0n0 want
II don't know; heard Mary Ellen asking
after YOU" A'N-'''e
i don't see what made mamma wake u,
80 SOON I'm sure can't have gone more
than an hour" oA
You wouldn't be out here II you knew
wnat had happened at the house,
w hatT' Gyp fairly screamed Tell me
mammar' ~
No. the family are all safe. But I b~a,ave
won't tell you--youu learn Quickly
enough "nen You got home" He made
thls last remark hoping that she would
start at once: but learning that the family
We're all well. her anxiety changed tn anpar
because Phil did not satisfy her curiosity
You won't tell me2" she cried .~Tber
IL tel you something / had Intended moi
10; You don't even know who you arer'