The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-04-11
THE MISSING
RING
A anna Incident at q
Dinner Party
By MoLLlE K. wETHERELL


At a dinner consisting Of a dozen
persons OF whereabouts Il lady who had
recently returned from abroad wore
on her finger a ring she had brought
from Rome. 1t had been found in dig
ging the foundation for a house to be
erected on the Via Cavour. and. con
sidering the depth at which it lay and
its workmanship, ar~chaeologists placed
it as belonging to the time of Angus
tus Caesar. The ring having been no.
ticed by some one sitting lei her,
the lady took it off her finger. and it
was passed around the table for in
spection.
The curiosity that had belonged to
so distant u 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 at some one else at the
table. but no one produced the ring.
Several minutes passed, during which
a 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. 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 ove and the
coffee served. \ suspicion therefore
arose among those present that it had
been stolen by of their number.
This suspicion showed itself to a
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 dismay. There was in
the incident material for a first class
scandal. Then the host. evidently
much moved, said:
at looks as though we had in our
midst a thief. and yet l have perfect
confidence that such is not the case.
Nevertheless every person present is
under suspicion. That every n may
be cleared of that suspicion l 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, II 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 Ave-"
Every II at the table ros except
Earle Huxford. a 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.
"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"
81 do not are 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. ONE 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
his guilt. though he virtually pleads
not guilty. Then. turning to the lady
who had lost the ring, he added. II
cannot replace your property. but ]
shall send to a friend in Rome, an
a~rchaeologist, 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
Bile and would make it good.
Huxford arose from the table and
looking at the host. said:
"Under the circumstances I must ask
your permission to. withdraw"
MADAME" said the host to the loser
Of the ring. sis it your wish to cal
upon the police to regain your ringY"
"Certainly not; l would not think o.
such a thing"
Every well. Mr.. Huxford. You MAY
withdraw"
All eyes were fixed on Huxford, VIII,
left the room without turning his bacl
to the company. m'king a slight incli
nation just before passing through tn,
door. He left a roomful Of persons in
fuenced by different emotions. Som,
blamed the host for permitting him t
depart without attempting to secur,
the ring; some felt that he had actet
wisely, but no II expressed an opin
lon. The episode was discussed IL
general terms by the company all tax
ing part except Miss Louise Trover
who seemed to have been stunned b,
1t, and Miss Kate Sheldon, who, though
she made no comment. showed in he
expression that she was much moved
The question. "Do you believe hin
guilty?' passed around the table. Mis-
Troyer's reply was. Il can't under
stand it," Miss Sheldon's was, II hav
no opinion to express in the matter"
Nothing else than Huxford's guilt
his motives for taking the ring. hi
consent to stand in the position of
thief II innocent-was discussed for tn