Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-11-18
mystery DIAL ostRing

A. - 4
sssss$essSsssss$seS2sSSsSSsSs$
Copyright. 1909. by American Press Assoc
ciation.l
The main incident of this story was
given me for fact.
The loss Of Sophie Brooks engage
ment ring was mystery. Less than
week after Clarence Howes had given
It to her she went to bed one night
with it 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 window in
Sophie's room, which had been closed
when she went to bed, was found in
the morning raised.
The persons in the house besides the
servants were Sophie's father, mother,
q younger brother, aged ten, and her
cousin, Winifred LOOMS, about her
own age. Sophie and Winifred were
the only persons sleeping on the floor
from which the ring had disappeared.
Winifred was an orphan and had been
taken in for charity. She was study
ing to become a teacher. There was
no possible explanation Of the rings
loss except Winifred had taken it off
her cousins finger while tic 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 a
servant, it was impossible, for the
doors leading from both Sophie's and
Winifred's 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
temptation to take it off her finger
while she slept. Howes demonstrated
against throwing suspicion upon any
one without proof, especially Winifred,
whom all loved and respected. Indeed,
so earnestly did he enter upon Wini-
fred's defense that Sophie took his ac-
ton for a clew. 1t suddenly appeared
to her that she had a rival in Wini-
fred-that her rival could not endure
to see her wearing ring on her finger
which had been given her by the man
she (Winifred) loved, and this was her
motive for stealing 1t.
What we fear we are apt to bring
to pass. Howes was a manly fellow,
and the moment suspicion, which he
fconsidered unjust, was thrown upon
Winifred he became interested in her
and in the solution of the mystery by
which she suffered. He questioned
Wtntfred closely upon every detail,
and one day Sophie came upon the
two unawares while engaged in an
animated conversation. Sophie's glance
at the couple caused both to blush.
She passed on without word, and the
result of the encounter was a new
complication. Sophie was now sure
Of her explanation of the mystery and
was doubly sure that Winifred had
captured her lover.
or all social conditions the most ex-
asperating is one involving things
known and not spoken Howes knew
that he w3s suspected Of being on
terms with Winifred that were not ac-
ceptable to his fiancee. Winifred knew
this and that she was suspected of
having stolen the ring. Sophie knew
that both the others were aware .,of
these things, and yet all this knowl-
edge was ignored between the trio
On the surface Howes and Sophie were
lovers; under the surface Howes and
Winifred were fast being drawn to-
gether by an irresistible power. sym
pathy in one. gratitude in the other.
Howes received brief note from
Sophie breaking her engagement with
out giving any reason. 1t drew color
to his cheek aud fash to his eye. He
replied, accepting the situation with
out comment. .Winifred remained a
member Of the Brock household. Why
shouldn't she? No one had openly ac-
cused her. No one treated her any diff
ferently than before the mystery. New
ertheless she lived a wretched life,
counting the days till she should be
equipped to earn her own living.
One night she awoke suddenly from
sleep. The full moon was shining into
the room, and by Its light she saw her
cousin In her room standing before a
mirror combing her hair. Winifred
asked her what in the world she was
doing that for There was no reply,
and in another moment Sophie passed
into her own room. There she threw
up window and leaned over the sill,
looking out. Winifred, realizing that
she had to deal with sleepwalker
and not daring to leave her at the win
dow. led her to her bed. Sophie lay
down without awakening, and Wini-
fred watched beside her.
While Winifred lay awake she
thought. The loss Of the ring must be
In some way connected with this SON.
nambulism. Might not her cousin have
dropped the ring in the room or out
the window? The next morning she
revealed what she had seen. Sophie.
regarding the story as made up to ex-
onerate Winifred. received it with ST.
lent scorn. Winifred searched her cous-
ms room when Sophie was absent and
found-nothfng. Howes searched the
grounds, also without success.
This was in midsummer. One day in
October the gardener was pulling up
some withered vegetable stalks in the