Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-12-25
THE MISSING
RING
A Dramatic Incident at a
Dinner Party
By NOBLE 4. wETHERElL


from Rome. II had been found In dig.
ging the foundation for house to be
erected on the Via Cavour. and. con
sIdering the depth al which It lay and
its workmanship. archaeoiozists placed
1t MS belonging to the time of Angus
tus Caesar. The ring having been mo-
ticed By some one sitting near her.
the lady took Ii on her finger. and It
was passed around the table for In
spection-
The curiosity that had belonged to
go distant 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 IL. Each person who had
/ held it looked at some one else at the
Able. but no one produced the ring.
/ Several minutes passed, during which
search was being made among the
| tableware. the brow of the lady who
/ had submitted it for inspection mean
while darkening. The host. who also
/ looked anxious. arose and, asking the
guests to push their chairs back from
the table. s-nted 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 1t had
been stolen by one of their number.
This suspicion showed itself 10 q
marked degree in the expressions OF
those who held it. The host. who sat
at one end of the table. and the host
ess. who sat at the other. looked at
each other In dlsmay. There was in
the incident material for first class
scandal Then the host, evidently
much moved. said:
1T looks as 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 ii say Aye =
Every one Mt 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 at
the young man in establishment
mfr Huxford." said the host with
dilated nostrils and flashing eyes. do
you confess yourself theft"
mo
Then why do you object TO clearing
this matter up:"
II do not care to state my reasons"
Huxford sat toying with the stem Of
a wineglass. 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:
II presume we shall be obliged to
take Mr.. Huxford's action as proof Of
not guilty" Then, turning to the lady
who had lost the ring. he added. Il
cannot replace your property. but /
shall send to q friend in Rome, an
archaeologist. to procure me the best
( substitute he can find that is purchas-
able at any price"
/ The lady replied that she did not
hold her host responsible for her loss.
but he insisted that he was response
/ bic and would make II good
/ 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. sis it your wish to call
upon the police to regain your ringT'
Certainly not: would not think OF
sucn a thing"
Very well. Mr.. Huxford. You may
withdraw"
9
Z left the room without turning his back
I to the company. making a slight incli-
nation just before passing through the
/ door. He left roomful of persons in
fuenced by different emotions. Some
blamed the host for permitting him to
4 depart without attempting to 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 all tax
ing part except Miss Louise Trover.
who seemed TO have been stunned by
I IT. and Miss Kate Sheldon. who, though
she made no comment. showed in her
/ expression that she was much moved
The question. do you believe him
4 guilty." passed around the table. Miss
4 Troyer's reply was, Il can't under
stand IL" Miss Sheldon's was. II have
no opinion TO express in the matter"
Nothing else than Huxford's guilt