Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-04-26

all making merry during the evening
In the drawing room Ed was consult
ing with the detective In the basement.
and the detective proposed plan
which Ed reluctantly accepted. say
reluctantly. for detectives are demo
cratic persons, just as liable 10 look fos
a perpetrator of crime among those OF
high as well as low degree.
Considering what was hanging over
me ! slept soundly. The first thing
did In the morning was TO go to the
vest that had hung on the back OF
chair the night before and put my
hand In the pocket TO be sure the ring
was there was thunderstruck 10
find il gone. Though | knew just
where had placed II felt In all the
pockets OF the vest and In all the peck
cts IN the suit had worn the night
before. The ring was In none OF them
The stupidity Of my action in tnking
the ring and not producing IL at once
now rushed upon me, filling me with
wonder. |. man twenty-six years
old IN full possession Of all my facul-
ties. lawyer familiar with the dan
gers Of placing oneself In position
OF suspicion Of having violated the law.
to have deliberately appropriated a
valuable diamond ring and kept II In
my possession all night. made me doubt
but that had been suddenly trans
formed into some one else and that
person had been born n fool.
But what should do? What could
dof should have gone TO the host
az once and made a clean breast Of II
all Had known what had occurred
would have done SO. but. though ] APP
preciated the position | was In OF lia-
hility to be accused of stealing, my
mind was largely occupied with my
responsibility for the lost property and
having to spend large sum TO replace
IT, We lawyers learn not TO give away
cur cases by prccipitate action, and
went down 20 breakfast determined 10
keep my own counsel till the proper
moment
Ed Darby was on hand. and instead
OF greeting me cheerily he barely
spoke 10 me. Marjorie. who sat OPP
posite TO me tried 20 greet me ms usual.
but seemed constrained and looked
troubled The meal passed with very
little said by any one. Darby appear
ed to be striving 10 be CHEEKY TO the
others. but took no notice Of me.
don't know how ] appeared, but have
no doubt that | made splendid pic
ture OF n convicted thief though any
bracing UP on my part under n clear
conscience was doubtless taken by
those who knew what happened for
callousness in crime.
| made up my mind that as soon as
breakfast was over would 20 TO Oar
by and have talk with him in order
to find out what had developed. but he
forestalled me rs soon as we left the
dining room and were alone together.
reckoning me to follow him. He took
me 10 his bedroom. shut the door and
locked It, Then for the first time he
gave way 10 his feelings. He opened
on me by saying that he had been con
founded by proving conclusively that
man he had considered his friend was
n common thief Then he told me that
during the night detective had enter
ed mine and other rooms and had
found valuable ring that belonged 10
one Of his guests in my vest pocket.
NV professional habit led me. now
that the worst was known. TO proceed
deliberately. asked him how many
of the party knew what had occurred.
and he said most of them had heard
OF IL aud the rest would learn about
IL at once from those who knew
assured him that ! was innocent. but
would like little time 10 prepare my
defense To this he replied that
could have as long as | wanted. for In
any event | would not be prosecuted
under the law. would only suffer In
the opinion of those present. since he
would exact promise from all 10 re-
frain from speaking OF 1t.
Realizing that my only defense was
the story OF my taking and keeping
the ring as have told IL here. asked
Darby to assemble his guests In the
drawing room and ! would make my
explanation. He did SO. and ] made rs
good an effort rs ! am capable OF
making Indeed. doubt II could have
made as good a one in favor OF client
under the same circumstances. The
effect on my hearers was like playing
on different musical instruments-some
will give out harmonious strains: 9th
ers are irresponsive 10 the touch. send
Ing back discords. But the response
that burst upon me like the tones of
an organ on an Easter morning was
given me by Marjorie. When ! con.
Guided with the words. "with this
must leave each and all OF you still 10
believe me an honorable man or a
thief she advanced from the far end
Of the room. where she had taken posi-
ton screened by others. moved direct.
Is toward me and put out her hand
From the moment decided upon my
course till this action of Marjorie's
had felt hardened 10 bear what WAS