Connecticut western news., 1908-12-17
Mystery OfaLOstRing

ESSSSccSSSSSSSSSSSSccSSSsSSSSSSS Copyright, 1908, by American Press Asso-
 ciation.l
 The main incident of this story was given me for fact.
 The loss of Sophie Brooks engage ment ring was a mystery. Less than a week after Clarence Howes had given 1t to her she went to bed one night with 1t 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 q 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, younger brother, aged ten. and her cousin, Winifred Loomis. about her own age. Sophie and Winifred were the only persons sleeping on the floor from which the ring had disappeared. l 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 1t off 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, 1t was impossible, for the doors leading from both Sophie's and Winifred's room were locked and bolt cd, though the two rooms communicat- cd 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 q 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. It suddenly appeared to her that she had rival in Wini- fred-that her rival could not endure to see Ter wearing a ring on her finger which had been given her by the man she CWinifred) 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 he considered unjust, was thrown upon Winifred he became interested in her and in the solution of the mystery. by. which she suffered. He. questioned Winifred 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 a 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.
 Of all social conditions the most ex- asperating Is one involving things known and not spoken. Howes knew that he was 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 Howcs and Winifred were fast being drawn to- ~ether by an fires istible power. sTr:- r1thr iN C"c gratitude n the crho"
 r. r-cj received Ericr note t.nm