Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-10

r1tck upon ny TCf1 tnsy almost SSeL-
ed worth while
! was beginning to be foolishly salts
fed with myself when something hap
pened that changed the whole situa-
| ton in a moment. One of st. Nick's
messengers delivered a small gift to
| Adelaide, who was already declaring
that there couldn't be anything more
for her and that she had never known
such a Christmas in all her life. The
new Offering seemed to be small
cubical box wrapped in plain brown
paper. Presently il disclosed itself to
be n very pretty box indeed. covered
with dark green velvet and having q
somewhat puzzling spring to hold the
lid.
Adelaide solved the trick of the
spring after many trials, which served
TO heighten her interest and impa-
thence. The lid flew back. and 1 caught
a CLEAN OF light. A faint cry escaped
from the girls lips, and her form be-
came rigid. She gazed into the box
with n devouring Intensity.
"a diamond said /.
"Ohr' she cried. and she flashed sim
gle glance upon me that expressed some
!
periehced As the perfumes OF roses
are indescribably refined and purified
by endless processes that SAVIOR of
magic. so gratitude was offered TO me
In its hundredth distillate in this glance
OF Adelaide's.
NO, nor said 1 weakly. and when
Aunt Anne looked at me soiemnly over
the top OF her spectacles / shook my
head In most decisive fashion.
"U-u-um." remarked Uncle Horatio.
viewing the sparkling gem over my
shoulder. this is very extraordinary"
"Addie." said Aunt Anne, don't you
know who gave it to you?"
II haven't the shadow of a guess"
she replied. and gave me the faintest
fash of look such as / have already
described.
Word OF honor" I protested. lit
was not l.
The diamond was set in a ring and
was above two carats in weight, as 1
judged by comparing IL with a mental
image OF a stone belonging to my SIS
ter. II sparkled with exceptional bril-
liancy and exerted upon Adelaide n
truly hypnotic fascination. l think
that her eyes never wandered from it
for more than ten seconds during the
remainder OF the exercises in the
church. and when we were upon the
street she held the gem before her at
arms length and followed this guiding
star all the way home. 1t drew her
forward with such speed that we three
were able To discuss this mystery to-
gether without being overheard by her.
OF course I could contribute nothing
In the way of information. / knew
only that / had not given Adelaide the
ring and that / wished the truth were
otherwise. ! supposed that the gift
must have come from some bashful
sutton OF whom l had never heard.
There's a young man named Frank
Garland" said she. He's the only one
can think OF who'd have money
enough TO buy such a thing. But he's
engaged TO Stella Tracy. He's visiting
with her folks for the holidays
We understand that. he is in bust
ness in Boston," said Uncle Horatio.
''and that he IS worth quite a little
money"
But" said /. If he is engaged to
Miss Tracy. why
Precisely" said Uncle Horatio.
"Stella's as jealous OF him as if there
was only one man in the world and he
was the one" said Aunt Anne. Il new
or noticed that he was more than po-
lite to Addie. Did you?"
And she glanced somewhat uneasily
at her husband. who Gravely shook his
head. l perceived. however. that Miss
Tracy must have disclosed. specific
jealousy OF Adelaide. and l began to
feel a most unreasonable resentment
toward Mr.. Garland.
Il guess Addie ii better not wear the
ring till We find out more about II"
said Uncle Horatio. and this view Of
the matter was presented TO the poor
girl when we reached the house. She
paled somewhat and looked appealing
Is at me. but Of course ! couldn't say
that had given her the ring.
4 sort OF treaty was made whereby
IL was provided that Adelaide should
keep the ring that night and should
sit up as long as she pleased TO admire
il. but on the morrow she should give
IL into the custody OF her foster moth
or pending an investigation
This was done. but the subsequent
investigation was singularly barren OF
results. For obvious reasons IL was
conducted with cautiOn-with so much
caution. indeed, that no light could pos
sibly come out OF IL. However. upon
my own part L succeeded in reaching
something which may be called an
opinion In brief. / decided that the
ring had come from Garland. that Stel-
Ia Tracy knew il. and that she was
Jealous TO the verge of utter absurdity.
AS 10 GarIand's motive for making
the gift. / CROPPED In hopeless dark
ness He was clearly not man who