Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-03-14
THE MISSING
RING
\ Dramatic incident at a
Dinner Party
By MoLLIE K. WEThERELL

recently returned from abroad wore
on her finger a ring she had brought
from Rome 1t had oeen found in dig
ging the foundation for a house to be
erected on the Via Cavour, and. con
sdering the depth at which it lay and
| its workmanship, archaeologists placed
it as belonging TO the time Of Angus
ticed by some one sitting near her,
the lady took it off her finger. and it
was passed around the table for in
spectiou
The curiosity that had belonged to
SO distant Il period and probably the
most interesting to modern European
races in history led to a spirited dia-
logue on the conditions existing at the
Eternal City under Augustus, and the
ring was forgotten Later its owner
asked for it. Each person who had
! held it looked Mt some one else mt the
| table. but no one produced the ring.
| Several minutes passed, during which
| d search was being made among the
tableware, the brow of the lady who
| had submitted ii for inspection mean
while darkening. The host, who also
looked anxious. arose and, asking the
guests to push their chairs back from
the table, looked carefully under it,
but without success.
There had been no walters in the
room while the ring had been circu-
lated. for the dinner was over and the
| coffee served 4 suspicion therefore
arose among those present that it had
! been stolen by one of their number.
] This suspicion showed itself to
marked degree in the expressions of
! those who held il, The host, who sat
at one end of the table, and the host
! ess. who sat at the other looked at
each other in dismay There was in
the incident material for n first class
scandal Then the host, evidently
much moved, said:
1T looks rs though we had in our
midst thief, and yet I have perfect
confidence that such is not the case.
Nevertheless every person present is
under suspicion That every one may
be cleared Of that suspicion ] propose
that we each and all submit to be
| searched | will call in some one who
| has not been in the room to do the
searching, one Of my own family, who
| will have no reason in screening or
convicting any individual. You have
| heard my proposition. Let those who
are willing to submit to it say Aye
Every one at the table rose except
Earle Huxford. young artist who had
passed his novitiate in Florence, Italy,
and had returned to America for a
short stay Those present looked ut
the young man in astonishment.
Mr.. Huxford," said the host with
dilated nostrils and flashing eyes, do
| you confess yourself a theft
| mo"
Then why do you object to clearing
this matter up?"
Il do not care to state my reasons"
Huxford sat toying with the stem of
a winegass. Outwardly at least he
was cool He did not meet the gaze
| of those whose eyes were fixed upon
| him, some with indignation, some with
| surprise and some with contempt.
There was a short silence, after which
the host said to the others:
Il presume we shall be obliged to
take Mr.. Huxford's action as proof of
his guilt, though he virtually pleads
not guilty" Then, turning to the lady
who had lost the ring, he added, Il
! cannot replace your property, but /
! snail send to a friend in Rome. an
archaeologist, to procure me the best
substitute he can find that is purchas-
able ut any price"
The lady replied that she did not
| hold her host responsible for her loss,
/ but he insisted that he was RESPONSE
Bile ard would make it gooJ
Huxford arose from the table and.
looking at the host said
! Under the circumstances must ask
| your permission to withdraw"
Madame said the host to the loser
OF the ring, lis it your wish to call
upon the police to regain your ring?'
Certainly not; / would not think of
such a thing"
VERY well, Mr.. Huxford. You may
withdraw"
All eyes were fixed on Huxford, who
left the room without turning his back
to the company, m"king a slight incli-
nation just before passing through the
door He left a roomful Of persons in
huenced by different emotions some
blamed the host for permitting him to
depart without attempting 10 secure
the ring; some felt that he had acted
wisely, but no one expressed an opin-
Ion The episode was discussed In
general terms by the company ali tax
Ing part except Miss Louise Trover.
who seemed to have been stunned by
It. anu Miss Kate sheldon. who. though
she made no comment showed I'm her
expression that she was much moved.
Inc question, DO you believe hinA
guilty r passed around the table. Miss
Iroyer's reply was, Il can't under
stand IT," Miss Sheldon's was. Il have
no opinion tc express in the matter"
Nothing else than Huxford's guilt
MS motives for taking the ring, his
consent 70 stand in the position Of
thief Il innocent-was discussed Tor the
F4F