Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-05-12

lieve know how to handle it, old man. "
Remember, warned you, Eastman,
and Laidlaw is witness to my warning,
said Bentley, raising a haggard face to-
ward them.
That's all right, Bentley. And now
my advice is to go to bed and get good
nights rest. You are all tired out with
your long journey and with the recital Of
your painful narrative. believe ! can
help you, and | will"
They shook hands cordially with their
host, but il was not until they had emerged
upon the street that Laidlaw spoke.
"That was rather rough Of you, East
man." he said Indignantly. AFTER he
told you the story of the girl you should
have let the matter drop. He's all broken
up over the matter"
Wouldn't you help him ifyou could p
asked Eastman quietly.
"Of course would, but he can't be
helped He's eitherthe victim OF aSerieS
OF remarkable condolences or else the
ring is poisoned one"
"You are wrong in both instances, Laid
law. have theory which | will work
out, and then will call upon you to con-
graduate me-" The scientist spoke with
an air OF confidence that impressed his
companion.
81 hope you will, Eastman" cried Laid
law earnestly, "but you can't bring back
ihe dead, you know, and that's what's the
matter with Bentley"
"Wait and.See," was the reply as East
man turned in at his gate. When he
reached his laboratory in the top OF the
house he flung his coat and hat upon a
chair and drew the ebony box from his
pocket. Then with powerful glass he
examined the maharajah'S ring with
frowning brow that denoted the intent
ness of his interest.
With long-drawn sigh he carefully
replaced the ring in the ebony box; then
he sat down and wrote several letters,
which he was careful to post that night in
spite of the lateneSS Of the hour.
Several months passed, during which
no mention was made of the amethyst
ring. Bentley lounged about his rooms
moody and abstracted, while Laidlaw
dropped in now and then for few brief
words of cheer as he made his busy
rounds. Eastman came, too, and had
long, quiet talks with Bentley during
which he strove TO learn more OF the life
which Bentley had spent in India, but he
never mentioned the maharajah'S ring.
Then one day several months after the
evening of Bentley's return from India the
three men gathered at Eastman's SuggeS-
tion in the formers study. Eastman in
his corner by the fire, Laidlaw stretched
in a steamer chair and Bentley lounging
in great leathern chair with his feet on
the skin of the tiger that had threatened
the life OF the maharajah. They talked
upon Indifferent subjects for awhile and
then Eastman said careleSSly:
"By the way, Bentley, have discov-
cred the mystery OF the ring"
"WhatW Bentley sprang TO his feet
and then passed hand abSently across
his brow. you have discovered the
mystery of the nng?" he stammered.
Certainly" replied Eastman cheer
fully. "Youremember the day you saved
the life OF the maharajah ?"
"SureIy."
at was hot day." said Eastman quiet
ly.
$50 il was. Confound it all, but can't
remember much about that day except
that they told me saved the maharaiah's S
life. was glad of that" said Bentley
simply.
"Can you bear a shock, old man ?"
asked Eastman kindly.
"What is it? Yes, can bear anything.
"You are mistaken about the deadly
character of the ring, Bentley" He
spread three letters written on thin foreign
paper on his knee and went on: "The
old maharajah of no matter what writes
me he is enjoying excellent health; Mrs
Fitz-Norton, the wife of the scoundrelly
army man, is a cheerful widow; young
Ellsworth is as husky and alive as he ever
was, and the only man who toppled over
at the Calcutta club that night was your
self, for it was the evening of the day oi
the tiger hunt, and you had suffered
sunstroke on that day, and you have for
gotten and imagined things ever since,
You are all right now"
A look of intense relief spread over
Bendey's face, his eyes frightened and
he looked from Laidlaw's bewildered
countenaHce to Eastman's face of quiet
strength. Thank God, 'he said. Then,
with boyish eagerness, he cried, "And
Muriel-Muriel Vivian-my love-whaI
of her"
"Why," laughed Eastman, with SYM
pathetic moisture in his eyes, "Miss
Vivian and her father are registered al
the st. Alexis, believe, and"-