The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-05-21

was planning, and he was glad when
the tiny clock struck II and he had
an excuse for stopping for lunch.
He had not yet made his fame as an
architect, and lunch was an elementary
meal-a couple of sandwiches brought
down from home and cake of maple
sugar that he had picked up some
where. He Clipped off corner of the
cake with his eraser.
On the broken half a yellowish CLINT
caught his eye and he further dissected
his portion. 1t was a ring, slender
band of gold. with ''T. H. to A. G.,
1904" engraved inside. Plainly some
girls engagement ring this. Perhaps
some little country girl was bewailing
her loss even yet. He caught up the
box, with its gaudy label 1t bore the
address. and that evening he posted a
letter addressed to Thomas Gillespie,
Wyeoma VT, in which he explained
the discovery Of the ring and announc
ed his willingness to return it on
proper description.
With his own little romance of the
interested in all romances, and as he
slipped the letter into the box he sent
after it a wish for good luck.
But sometimes blessings like curses,
come home to roost. He was beginning
to fear that there would be no answer
to his letter. that perhaps the label
was but an evasion of the pure food
law, when there came a knock at his
door, and in answer to his Enter"
there appeared the girl from across the
hall. blushing rosily.
81 believe that you are Mr.. Vance
Keller" she began as Vance sprang tc
his feet and busted off the company
chair
"You have the advantage of me-" he
suggested. "since l do not know your
name"
81 am Agnes Gillespie" she ex-
planned my father wrote me to see
you about letter you sent him.
"And you were working right across
the hall all the time?" he cried. "Rath-
er a roundabout way. isn't it? | sup
pose you can describe it."
at was a plain gold band" she
said "The initials were T. II. and A.
G. and the date 1904"
"The initials are right" he agreed,
'but the date is wrong. It's 1904"
''That is because the ring has been
worn so long" she explained, the red
suffusing her face. 1.-THE 8 is partly
erased"
The blush convinced him, and his
heart sank as he drew out the ring.
Perhaps she was bashful about admit
ting her engagement. but it was 1904.
He could swear to that.
Her face broke into smiles as he
drew it from his pocket and passed it
to her.
81 never thought that | should see it
again" she ran on. at dropped off
my hand last year while was helping
with the sugaring. l never realized
that it might be in the sugar until it
had all been shipped"
She slipped the ring on her finger, and
Vance noticed that it was perfect fit.
He breathed silent vengeance on ct.
H." as he held the door open for her,
that he at least knew her name.
After that when they met on the
stairs they exchanged greetings, and
several times she had to run into bor-
once she had shown him her studio
where she worked over designs for
wholesale house She was always
frankly friendly, and he respected the
rights of or H."
But to keep from loving was quite
another thing Even before he had
| known her he had fallen in love, and
acquaintance had only strengthened the
feeling. More than once he thought
of moving away out of temptation, but
before he decided the fateful moment
came.
He was working with his door ajar,
and, CHANGING to look up, he saw d
puff of black smoke blow in. He
sprang to his feet and rushed into the
hall. The stairway was cracking mere
rily, and two floors below the flames
had full possession. Theirs was a rear
building, built in the yard of the high
er structure. 1t would be a hard fire
to fight. and all chance of escape by
stairway or fire escape was hopeless.
He ran to Agnes door and burst in
when there was no answer to hia
knocking. He knew that she was in,
for he had seen her pass. One glance
showed that he was right in his fear
She was stupefed by the smoke, and
he had to drag her out.
There was a scuttle to the roof and
from there an emergency ladder led to
the top Of the next building, climb OF
twenty feet Desperation lent him
strength, and somehow he got her
through the scuttle and was just lift
ing her over the edge of the adjoining
roof when the flames burst through the
roof he had just quit
In the jostling she had received the
smoke had been forced out and the air
forced into her lungs, and as he laid
her upon the roof she opened her eyes.
! s9What IL the matfarT' she cried