The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-15
TIE EVENING STORY
Dorine and a Diamond.

she said and raised her denure eyes
to her companions frowning visage.
'Internlinable!'' Jimmy Rogers glow
cred off to the big mountains sur
rounding them, and then back to the
beautiful face beside him. Doreen,
1 have waited just three hundred ana
sixty-five days for an answer. Today
it must be either yes or no. 1t Is
very simple
Doreen shook her head slowly and
little wistfully. mo, it is not sim
pie" She rubbed her hand back and
forth under the padding of baIsam
needless Sometimes I am sure love
YOU. and sometimes am equally sure
I do not" Her idle fingers had en-
countered netting hoOp-lke and she
slipped the third finger through II De
fore bringing it to observation.
How perfectly funny! 1 have found
a ring among these needless! 1t seems
almost as If an unknown man had en-
gagged me to hint" Doreen laughed
and held out the ring for Inspection.
Jimmy Rogers looked out from the
deDths of his gloom, then brought him
self to a sitting posture He SO tar
forgot his misery as to speak with a
stirring of excitement
by Jove Derry! That looks like
the real thing! Let's see?'' He blew
the dust and dirt of perhaps a year s
accumulation from about the great
stone that was deeply imbedded IN It's
clutch of heavy gold.
THAT stone IS worth some lew AuiA
dred at least!'
"ReaIly. Jimmy! oh, dear, then 1
will have to advertise for the missing
man, won't II" Doreen's eyes were
flushed It was the first time she had
found anything valuable in her life
ut is a beautiful diamond, isn't it?"
Oh Jimmy, l would love to have it
reset. for myself She sighed.
..Why don't you? The duffer who
lost it probably has a dozen or So.
Are there any initials? There are
What a shame." Doreen laughed mis-
chfevously. 81 hoped there would be
no definite clew."
yes. it looks as if j. c. would get
his ring back" said Rogers. Then re-
turning to the original subject And
my answer"
II am afraid it is no now. Jimmy.
I feel somehow that if 1 had not found
this ring, it would have been yes
THAT doesn't do me any good re-
marked Rogers, and led the way SLOW
Nv back to the Mountain hotel.
An unusual thrill of light happi-
ness ran through Doreen's veins, but
the man looked ahead with gloomy
eyes and saw nothing save shadows
Returning to New York, Doreen's
first act was to have an advertisement
inserted in the Lost and Found col
umns of the newspapers. 1t read
merely: Found. ring. Initials j.
G."
Doreen prided herself on the conser-
vative line She could not well be
troubled with persons trying to claim
the ring.
Gradually as the days wore on
sense of disappointment filtered
through her thoughts In the dim
recess of her brain she had counted on
the claimant; he was to be big and
broad and blonde.
With shadowy eyes Doreen let go
the romance she had Rugged close in
her innermost thoughts, and went to
the ieweler to have the great diamond
set to her liking.
she watched the jeweler examine
the ring; then his keen eyes shot up
at her Rage boiled within her, and
the hot color famed in her cheeks.
suspicion lurked in the mans eyes.
Doreen would have fed from the shop
had not her sense of right come to the
rescue.
Unusually beautiful stone" re-
marked the man suavely.
q am Interested" continued the
jeweler May 1 ask where so fine a
stone came from ?"
Really, I cannot remember Do
reen had intended to state fully the
story of the ring. Now with the white
heat rising within her, she knew that
she would fabricate to the limit of her
ability rather than satisfy this suspi-
cious person.
and Doreen felt that he was sparring
for time in which to detain her. She
looked about for another clerk, and
her eyes encountered a man, big and
broad and blonde, who had swung
through the door.
heard him address the jeweler, who
was still absorbed in the ring.
Are you busy, Griggs?"
The man behind the counter looked
up and a smile broadened his mouth.
With a muttered, Excuse me-" to Do
reen. he stepped aside and conversed
in low tones with the blonde man.
The girl, raging inwardly, knew that
she was the subject of discussion. and
she strove to retain q calm exterior
The two men drew near The jew
eler spoke.
This gentleman, Mr.. Graham, Mr..
John Graham, is interested in diamond
mines. He asks to be allowed to see
this unusual stone"
Doreen looked up startled. and
watched a dull color creep up over
the blonde mans face He hesitated
as if he would have drawn back, but
her loW-voiced Certainly compelled
him to take the ring.
1.-The young lady has refused to tell
me where she got the
81 deny your right to question mel"
Doreen's cheeks were scarlet, and she
dashed an angry glance at each of the
men.
Mr.. Graham had a ring identical
with that one stolen-
4 quick gesture from the blonde
man stopped further words.
1T have no reason to suppose that
T. c. stands for John Graham!" Do
reen flashed quickly.
''I happen to have engraved and set
this partieular-'
Graham's voice took on sudden au-
thority. "Griggs, please be SO good as
to drop the subject. and set the stone
as Miss-this lady Desires
Doreen again glanced up. Her eyes