The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-11
MysteryOfaLOStRing

The main incident of this story was
gives ,Esc fos fact.
THE loss of Sophie Brooks engage
ment ring was mystery. Less than a
week after Clarence Howes had given
1t TO her she went 20 bed one night
with Il on her finger. and when she
woke up in the morning It was gone.
The bedding was searched and shaken;
the bed was taken apart, but the ring
did not appear.
There was no evidence Of burglary
except that the sash of a window in
Sophe's room. which had been closed
when she went to bed, was found I'm
the morning raised.
The persons IN the house besides the
servants were Sophle's father, mother,
q younger brother aged ten. and her
cousin, Winifred Loomis. about her
own age. Sophie and Winlfred were
the only persons sleeping on the floor
from which the ring had disappeared.
Wlnifred was an orphan and had been
taken in for charity She was study
ing TO become teacher There was
no possible explanation of the rings
loss except Winifred had taken it or
her cousins finger while the latter
slept. But this did not account for
the open window. Besides Winifred
was regarded by all who knew her as
an upright. conscientious girl,
As to the theory OF the theft by
servant, II was impossible, for the
doors leading from both Sophie's and
Winifrcds room were locked and bolt
ed, though the two rooms communicate
ed and the door between them was
open.
When Sophie told her lover OF her
loss she intimated she believed that for
some unknown reason Winifred had
coveted the ring and had yielded to a
temptation to take It or her finger
while she slept Howes demonstrated
against throwing suspicion upon any
one without proof especially Winifred.
when all loved and respected. Indeed,
so earnestly did he enter upon Wini-
fred's defense that Sophie took his ac-
tlon for clew. 1t suddenly appeared
to her that she had a rival in Wini-
fred-that her rival could not endure
to see her wearing II ring on her finger
which had been given her by the man
she (Wiuifrcd) loved, and this was her
motive for stealing It.
What we fear we are apt to bring
to pass Howes was a manly fellow
and the moment suspicion, which hC
considered unjust, was thrown upor
Winifred he became interested IN hel
ana I'm the solution of the mystery b,
which she suffered. He questioned
Winifred closely upon every detail
and one day Sophie came upon thu
two unawares while engaged in al
animated conversation. Soqhie's glance
at the couple caused both to blush
She passed OF without a word ana tn
result Of the encounter was new
complication. Sophie was now sur
of her explanation Of the mystery an'
was donbly sure that Wlnifred ha'
captured her lover
OF all social conditions the most ex
aspcrating is one involving thing
known and not spoken HOwes kney
that he was suspected OF being ol
terms with Winlfred that were not a
ceptable to his fancee. Winifred kne
this and that she was suspected q
having stolen the ring. Sophie kneN
that- both the others were aware q
these things, and yet all this know
edge was ignored between the tri'
On the surface Howes and Sophie wer
lovers: under the surface Howes an
Wihifred were fast being drawn (,
gether by an Irresistible power. syn
pathy in one gratitude in the other.
IIowes received brief note froi
Sophie breaking her engagement wit
out giving amy reason. II drew cole
to his cheek and a flash to his eye Il
replied. accepting the situation wit
out comment. Winifred remained
member Of the Brock household. WI
shouldn't she? No one had openly n
cused her 40 one treated her any dl
ferently than before the mystery, Ne
ertheless sic lived a wretched III
counting the days tin she should
equipped 80 earn her own living.
One night she awoSc suddenly fro
sleep. The full moon was shiniag in
the room. and by It's light she saw h
cousin IN her room standing before
mirror comhing her hair. Wnifr,
asked her What IN the world She W
doing that for There was no repl
and in another moment Sophie pass
into her own room. There she thre
up a window and leaned over the 81
looking out Winifred, realizing th
she had to deal with a sleepwalk
and not daring TO leave her at the vi
dow. led her 60 her bed. Sophie i
down without awakening and Wi
fred watched beside her.
While Winifred lay awake $
thought. The loss of the ring must
in some way connected with this so
nambuiism Might not her cousin ha
dropped the ring IN the room or Z
the wirdow? The next morning $
revealed what she had seen. soph
regarding tue story as made up to
onerate Winifred received II with
lent scorn Winifred senrchod her co
in's room when Sophie was absent a
found nothing. Howes searched
grounds. also without success.