Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-10-20
Confidence u: :; I:
By F. TOWNSEND SMITH
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

l never wear .ring-feW men do
nowadays-but If were inclined to
do SO there is an incident in my life
that would prevent it. was visiting
my friends Mr.. and Mrs. Jim Pea
body at their country place. Another
guest was Miss Virginia Wother-
spoon, to whom had taken a desper-
ate fancy. One afternoon after q
game Of tennis l went into the bath
room on the floor where my room was
located for bath, and on the marble
basin saw ring set with four large
diamonds, which recognized at once
as one l had seen on the finger Of
Miss Wotherspoon. took it to my
room. intending to hand it to her
when we met at dinner. Jim called
me to his room to tell me about some
amusements he was arranging. and I
left the ring on the mantel in my
room. He kept me half an hour, and
when returned the ring was gone.
was liable to be considered thief
and of having appropriated to myself
the property of girl to whom had
already given the biggest part Of my
heart. was sufficiently cool to think
before acting. What would be the
safest course for me to pursued
While weighing the pros and cons of
different courses dinner was announc-
ed. '''s'a
once knew very successful man
who said, reversing a, common adage,
II never do today what I. can put of
till tomorrow" I was much impress
ed with the idea, and rather than de-
eide hastily in this instance concludl-
ed to defer decision till after dinner.
decided dead wrong. should have
brought the matter out at once. While
had been in Jim's room the house,
keeper had gone into mine to leave
some towels and had seen the ring on
my mantel. Miss Wotherspoon missed
It and ran to the bathroom. Not find
ing her property, she made her loss
known to the hostess. The hostess
communicated with the housekeeper,
who said she had seen the ring on my
mantel. Had l, on going down to din
ner, made the facts known my story
would have been believed. But, not
saying word about the matter, it al!
looked very singular to my friends.
Nothing was said about Miss Woth-
erspoon's loss, and at first there was no
constraint at the board, but before
the dinner was finished I noticed q
considerable GOODNESS toward me on
the part of every one.
Knowing well the cause and begin
ming to realize the position was in,
grew embarrassed. I saw that had
made mistake all around and did not
see any way to vindicate myself.
did not know that the ring had been
seen in my room. but it was piafn to-.
me that my connection with It was ina
some form known. l had but one,
theory as to the disappearance Of the
property-that some one probably a.
servant. had gone into my room and.
seeing the ring there, had stolen it.
After dinner took Jim aside and,
told him the whole story. He looked
very serious. He said that he didn"
doubt word Of what had told him.
but he didn't see how we were to-
convince the women Of the family
"They don't take the same views Of
things that we do" he said. 'tThey
Judge in accordance with their feel
tngs. That's the reason we men don't
let them into the jury box. The main
trouble in this case is that all our
servants have been with us a long:
while, and, although we have left val
uables where they could have been
easily stolen without detection, we
have never missed anything. But I'll
do the best can for you"
You never know what different
views different persons will take Of
mystery in which you are implicated
until you are the subject Of it. The
only person in that whole household
who thoroughly believed my story was
who?
I'll tell you.
After talking with Jim I went out
for walk in order to leave him to
tell my story to the others and to get
quoted down. When I returned no one
was about, but on going into the
drawing room Miss Wotherspoon adj
vanced and, putting out her hand and
fixing her honest eyes on mine, said:
II have heard your explanation and
have not the slightest doubt that every
word of it is absolutely true"
By Jove! What do you suppose
did? opened the sprinkler in my
| eyes.
Pretty soon went up to Jim's room
to tell him the good news. He listened
to me, but without that enthusiasm I
had expected. When had finished he
said:
1--WE must find the thief. That's the
only way to exonerate you. I told
you that women are prone to decide
such questions In accordance with
their feelings. am not surprised at
/ Miss Wotherspoon's action. for both
my wife and have noticed decided
Partially on her part for you"
"Thank God for thatv
"My wife is more unprejudiced.
wish her to feel perfectly satisfied In
the matter and shall take measures to
discover the thief"
left the next day under a cloud
at least with Mrs. Peabody. Six
months from that time the thief had
not been discovered. Miss Wother-
spoon and I were married. but Jim
and his wife were not invited to the
wedding. In another six months the
thief turned up in a servant to whom
! they gave a confidence they denied me-