The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-07
CHAPTER XXI.
Caleb Conover Receives Ne,

SdleD SO11ONeT fNeCelNeS -NSWS.
 The night train "out," full of brown and disgruntled returning vacationists. drew away from Raquette Lake Sta ton. Caleb, in the smoking room, his hat pulled over his eyes, his eternal cigar unlighted, sat with shut eyes, trying to summon up the memory of Desiree's big brave eyes she had bidden him good bye on the dock. In- stead, he could only recall the sweat cred, cloaked crowd at the Antlers pier, waiting in the lantern-light to say good bye to the launchful of de- parting guests; the two or three cards that had been thrust into his hand and of whose purport he had not the remotest idea: the screech of the launch-whistle, and the churning out of the boat into the dark; dragging Caleb away from the happiest hours of all his life.
 A man he had met at the Antlers entered the smoking room and tried to talk to him. COnover's answers were so vague and disjointed that the other soon gave over the attempt A fellow railroad-magnate from a camp near the lake glanced in at the door and nodded affably to the rising power in the provincial railroad world. Con- over did not so much as see the greet ing. He was trying once more, with shut eyes, to conjure up Desiree's face.
 He stopped over a train, in New York, next morning; took cab to the
  CT and demanded to see an assortment of engagement rings. The clerk laid on a velvet cushion half a dozen dia- mond solitaires averaging in size from one to two karatS and variouSly set. Caleb waved the collection aside, after a single glance.
 ''I want the biggest, best diamond ring you got in the place. he de- manded.
 A second, far more garish array was produced. Caleb chose from it dia- mond of the size of his thumb-nail looked it over critically and said:
 ''This'n do, I guess. Biggest you've got? How much?
 At the astounding price named he merely smiled. and drew out his check book
 That ought to tickle her fancy" he mused.. "Ain't dfmond in Granite as big"
 What size, sir?'' asked the clerk
 Why, that's the one I'm takin'. That size" replied Conover, perplexed.
 The clerk explained.
 'Oh, see," stammered Caleb. TT didn't think to ask her. I didn't even know fingers went by sizes. But-her hands lot smaller'n mine, if that'll help you any"
 The clerk looked away at some point of interest that had suddenly sprung store. Caleb picked up the huge dia- n1ond and began to fit the ring on his own fingers. His little finger alone would permit the circlet to slip down as far as the first bulging knuckle- | joint.
 'It won't even go on my little fin ger.'' he observed. 'I guess that'n be just bout the right size for her.
 ''If T might suggest offered the | clerk, "why don't you leave the ring | with me until you can find out the size | of the lady's finger? Then notify us and we will have it adjusted at once anI forwarded to you.''
 This in no way suited Calebs ideas | He had planned to put the ring on De- siree's hand, the evening of her return to Granite, three weeks hence. He l to witness her delight and sur l prise. It would offset the incident of | the American Beauties. Neither of | them had said a word during that last l all-too-short day, about an engagement | ring. He hoped she would think he | did not know enough to get her one l The girls amaZement and joy would | be so much the greater. Whereas, if | he asked her beforehand about the size
 That's all right" he decided. "Tn ,alxe it with me. If it don't fit she can send it. back. But I guess it will"
 It was the eve of the Legislatures special session. Conover had moved. three days earlier. to the Capital and was massing his legislative cohorts for he charge which was forever to an- initiate the revised Starke bill. > The price of Steeloids had slumped ,ver so little in view of the coming est. Caleb welcomed the slight drop; Caine, Standish and the rest hat it but preluded an unheard of boom in the stock the moment the 'esult of the Assembly vote became 1nown on Change. As to that result le had not an atom of doubt. He knew lis strength to the minutest degree. 3lacarda had made inroads upon hi 'anks, it was true; but the breaches were unimportant. And Caleb's pres nce in the lobby the day of the yote together with certain highly ef- ective secret manoeuvres which were O be put into operation that day, would faRufpore than offset them -oIru opyictorious struggle of