Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-25

jimmy had just declared with her most
roguish smile that she would run home
and tell her mother all about this
sweetest Of sweet little places when
shout rose from the other side of the
street, and that collection of fifteen or
twenty boys scampered away as If
mad, shouting in joyous echo of the
boy at their head:
cts to be chicken, heaping plates of
ice cream and sponge cake"
By which token she knew that the
ring had been found.
y
When they brought this ring to me
would not have exchanged places with
any man on earth. AS jimmy herself
was curious enough to stroll along
about this time, held it out where we
both could see it and draw our conclu-
sions.
1t was plain gold circlet set with a
single small ruby. 1t was cut through
and twisted out of shape just as had
anticipated. How could I learn the
story Of that ring and the possible
connection between it and Mr.. Jeffrey's
professed jealousy of his wife and the
disappointing honeymoon which had
followed their marriage? That this
feeling on his part had antedated the
ambassadors ball no one could ques-
ton, but that it had started as far back
as. the wedding day was new idea to
me, and one which suggested many
possibilities. Could this idea be estab.
lished, and If so how7 But one avenue
Of inquiry offered itself. The waiter,
who had been spirited away SO curl
ously Immediately after the wedding,
might be able 10 give us some informa-
ton on this interesting point. He had
been the medium Of the messages
which had passed between her and
Mr. Jeffrey just prior to the ceremony;
afterward he had been seen talking
earnestly to that gentleman and later
with her. Certainly it would add to
our understanding Of the situation to
know what reply she had sent to the
peremptory demand made upon her al
so critical time-an understanding sc
desirable that the very prospect Of Il
was almost enough to warrant jour
ney to Tampa. Yet, say that the re
suits We're disappointing, how much
time lost and what a sum Of money
I felt the need of advice in this crisis
yet hesitated to ask 1t. My cursed
pride and my no less cursed Jealousy
Of Durbin stood very much in my way
at this time.
A week had now passed since the in
quest, and while Miss futile still re
NAMED at liberty it was circum
scribed liberty which must have beer
very CALLING to one Of her Temperament
and habits. She rode and she walked
but she entered no house unattended
nor was she allowed any communica
ton with Mr.. Jeffrey. Nevertheless.
she saw him or at least gave him tn,
opportunity Of seeing her. Each da,
at 8 o'clock she rode through X street
and the detective who watched Mr.
Jeffrey's house said that she neve
passed it without turning her face Il
the second story window, where he in
variably stood. No signs passed be
tween them-indeed they scarcely nod
debut her face as she lifted it t,
meet his eye showed so marked Sc
renity and was so altogether beautiful
that this same detective had desir,
to see If it maintained like character
istics when she was not within reacl
of her brother-in-law. Accordingly tn
next day he delegated his place to an
other and toek his stand farther dow
the street. Alas, it was not the sam
woman's face he saw, but far differ
ent and sadder one. She wore tina
look Of courage and brave hope only II
Jeffrey sec. Mis-. futile