The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-01-28
Fl Lesson In Ethics.


dOnable smile that fingered around the
corners of his mouth. Just as Marion
was beginning to de ,p air of getting off
the Car before it startel again the
young nan said something that was
un'nteligible to her, an a passageway
was Ope ned as if by magic.
AS she stood on the corner of Thirty
fourth street aud Broadway waiting
for the crOsstown car, instinctiveiy she
felt of her hair and hat to fnd Out if
they had become disarranged, and as
she glanced down at her skirt was
alarmed to ses that ler handbag vas
open. Quickly thrusting her hand into
tie bag Marion verified Ler worst
fears. The envelope containing her
salary was missing. 1t flashed thru
her mind, as she watched the recedlng
broadway car Vanish from sight, what
all that unnecessary jostling ON the
car platform Was fOr-tO give some
Ole with educated fingers an opportu-
nifty to remove the envelope from her
bag, aud Marion had no doubt but the
some one was the gent with the laugh
ing eyes.
Marion was endowed with all tie
wit and ingenuity OF city bled young
women, but she stood Oh the corner in
a half-dazed condition, and her right
hand, as if it disbelieved that the
money had l een lost, groped thru the
bag again. AS Ter hand touched each
article she made mental note of
them: Her handkerchief, keys, some
change; but what was this she felt, a
circular band-the keyring? No. it
was too small. Drawing it from tie
bag she was mOle than surprised to
gaze upon a gold ring in which was
set large, brilliant, white stole that
shOne and glistened in tie sunlight.
Marion had enough experience with
"BarriOs" and other near diamonds to
know that the stone set in this ring
was the genuine article But what
puzz e. her was how did the ring get
into her handbag? The solution OF
this puzzle came to her upon closer ex-
animation, when she found piece of
twiLe wound thru the lower part of
the ring. Tie person who ha1 So skill
fully distracted tie envelope from the
handbag had worn this ring, the twine
wound thru the ring gave evidence
| 10 in,
tense y engaged in his nefarious trade
the ring slipped from his 6nse-. What
would she do with the ring? A police
man stood on the opposite corner
Should she report the loss of her money
and give him the ring?
Seve, a. cars had passed since Marion
stood Oh the corner, and as none was
in sight now, ste concluC el that the
short Walk to her home on Eighth Av.
enue would give her chance to think
mole clearly and decide what she
: would do with the ring. AS Marion
walked along she unconsciously slipped
r the ring on one of her fingers. How
the diamond sparkled and threw out
! brilliant flashes of light. She lad al
e ways Iona yed to own zeal diamond
D Should she take advantage of this op
3 portunity? Marion Lad enough
t knowledge of police affairs, gained thrr
= her eldest brOthe-, who had been em
4 ploye1 at one time as telegraph
9 operator at the police headquarters, tt
a know that all articles of any value
y whether confiscated from prisoners, o.
Q found by citizens and turned over t,
e the police, were held for limited
time, and If no lawful owner claimed
q them, they were sold at an annua
: auction. Why not ke.p it! The per
d son who lost it would never dare in
Q stitute search for the ring or ever
r reclaim it if he recognized it on he
2 finger. What was that time-wOrl
9 proverb? Yes, "a fair exchange is n,
r robbery" But what would she tell he
f arents, especially her truth-lovinl
: mother? She could hide tie ring for
n while but how would she account 70
e the loss of two weeks salary? Tel
# them she had Lesn robbed and omi
q the finding Of the valuable ring in he
Is handbag?
isl Marion had now reached Eight