The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-10-23

the hand of the street car passenger
sitting beside her, crawl stealthily into
her pocket
Mrs. Osgood was intelligent as we'll
| as self-possessed, and she knew that a
cry would instantly project the thief
to the rear platform, whence he might
easily step to the pavement Consid-
ering the emergency hastily, Mrs. Os-
good did the very best thing that could
have been done under the circum-
stances. She dropped her own hand to
her skirt and clasped the intruding
digits as firmly as she was able. In
stantly the digits aforesaid were
wrenched free and the young man on
her right hurried out of the car.
Mrs. Osgood held her pocket for
few moments while she decided to hold
her peace. She could feel that her
purse was safe and she realized that by
that time the young man must be in
tho same happy condition. Since moth
ing had been lost, nothing was to be
gained by creating a disturbance. Mrs.
Osgood remained on the car until it
reached Seventy-second street, where
she resided, and then, her self-satis-
faction showing In every movement,
she walked home
That night, while she was dressing
for dinner, her maid remarked: II put
your new ring In the jewel box, ma
dam"
MY new rIng?" inquired Mrs. os.
good.
THE one in your pocket" replied
the maid. 1T wasn't wrapped; just
loose like"
All" quoth Mrs. osgood. Let me
sea it."
1t was a curious trinket OF the sort
known as burial scarab. Doubtless,
hundreds OF years before 1t had
adorned the hand of some spiced
Egyptian gentleman boxed and con-
signed to a polytheistic paradise. More
recently, Mrs. Osgood felt certain, it
had slipped from the finger of another
gentleman bound for a place remote
from any paradise whatever In fine,
the ring unquestionably was the prop
erty of tho pickpocket, and its present
posesssor had foiled thief only to be-
come thief herself.
THE funny part of It," said Mrs. o.
good while the fish was being served,
lis that l can't bring myself to hope
that anyone will ever claim the thing.
It's the most extraordinary scarab
ever saw"
Il shouldn't think of wearing it." re-
turned Mr.. Osgood. 1T might be in
fected, or, for all you can tell, 1t might
he symbol to identify you as a mem
Der OF some criminal society"
"Oh, that's too good" exclaimed his |
wife, and attacked the fish.
A few days later she advertised in a
paper that the owner of fine Egyp-
tian scarab lost on a Columbus avenue
car might have the same by the simple |
process of describing his property The
notice also contained the reassuring
Information that no questions would be |
asked, Notwithstanding this promise |
OF consideration for a tender con-
science, no one ever called to claim the |
ring. and, after time, Mrs. Osgood
began wearing 1t herself. "T have a
strange Partially for things out of
place" she commented. 'and 1000
beetle bound to the third fin
ger of ones right hand may certainly
be said to be out of place"
Don't be surprised" her husband
admonished, IF some anarchIstic-look-
Ing rutfian stops you on the street and
asks for the oountersign."
Mrs. Osgood laughed again. Deep in
kn "a
ress. but, as she wore the ring evening
after evening and the prophecy of her
lord and master was never fulfilled,
even this slight fear left her. On the
Erst night of the Conried season she
selected the ornament from O large
number of others and carried it so far
into society as d Left, in the Metro
pclitan opera house. There it excited
considerable attention, particularly
from a thin, nervous woman IN a loud
gown and the adjoining seat.
The thin, nervous woman proved to
be anything but an agreeable neigh
Dor She fldgeted restlessly In her
chair and expressed her annoyance at
The contact of Mrs. Osgood's opera
cloak, which had been thrown care
essly over the space of seat-back be-
.ween them, by frequently plucking at
to soft folds. At first Mrs. Osgood laid
these gaucheries to semi-intoxication,
an opinion born of her husba9Ld's
laughing remark; "She goes out after
svery act and is worse every time she
comes back" Subsequently, however.
Il was agreed that the offender prob
ably was merely IAN outsider" who
didn't know how to conduct herself.
There isn't any bar in the foyer, is
thers?" Mrs. Osgood asked during one
Of the intermissions.
Mr.. Osgood said there wasn't.
well, thenl" returned Mrs. Osgood,
adding; Besides, noticed that she
simply walks about. Perhaps thi, is
tho first time she has ever been among
really nice people, poor thing;"
Whether the proximity mentioned
had an inebriating effect or whetA err
the vexatious person was merely tired,
she came so near to embracing the oc-
cupant of d Left, after her last tour,
A