The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-12
THE EVENING STORY
LOst-A Solitaire.
(By Molly McMaster.)

| Roger Lewis SANK OlScOnIenLeOly
into the lone chair beside his break
fast table. 1t seemed more or less
ungracious considering the fact that
| the coffee was emitting little joyous
sounds from the percolator and the
mullins, under a silver cover, were
worthy of a kings palate.
Good old Sarah, who had served
Roger since boyhood, smiled under
| standingly, and with the familiarity
born of long servitude uttered her
thoughts.
You would not be signing that
way if a bonnie golden head were at
the other side of the table, I'm think
ing" she said.
Roger smiled boyishly and his eyes
lit up.
"You are right, Sarah,'' he agreed,
of those little lace caps with the pink
bows on them opposite me-" He gazed
whimsically up at Sarah. "And 1 want
her to have many little gold-colored
curls peeping out through the lace"
Sarah laughed and watched Roger
buttering his second muffin.
81 could manage the pair of you as
well as one," she limited and retired
to the kitchen.
For a moment more Roger contem-
plated the joy of watching slim white
fingers turning the small percolator
spout and drawing forth his cup of
coffee. After that he sighed and pick
ed up his morning paper.
Perhaps it was because his mind
was more or less matrim onially bent
that small item caught his attention.
1t read:
Twenty five dollars for the return
of a solitaire engagement ring. No
questions asked. NJ. Carr, III River
side
E'Humph!'' muttered Roger Lewis;
"all solitaries look alike-there is a
good chance for some one with ring
who needs a little ready money" He
read the name again. IN. Carr would
probably not know her own ring from
any other
Roger persued his paper, but for
some peculiar reason he seemed des-
tined to remember the name of NJ
Carr. He wondered what she was
like and by what care1essness she had
lost her precious ring. Also he specu-
lated as to whether the lucky man
knew of the loss. Roger considered
any engaged man lucky.
AT least he has some one to squan-
der money on" thought Roger, and
suddenly he smiled. He, too, could
spend money on this same careless
girl. There was nothing to hinder him
from buying solitaire, having the
initials M. c. engraved therein and
going with it to Miss Carr's home.
Roger finished his breakfast hur-
riedly. The thought of an unconven
tional meeting with any girl, whether
she be engaged or not. was at least
amusing.
Afterward, when he had written out
Dig cnock ana walked out OF the
jewelers. with startlingly beautiful
diamond ring in his hand, he began to
feel foolish.
"I am all kinds of an IDIOT" he
complimented himself, 'but 1 seem to
want to see this thing through
1t was nearing the dusk of twilight
when Roger approached the home on
Riverside. 1t was a big apartment
elevator to the top floor.
The oddly of his experience brought a
smile to Rogers eyes and when the door
opened in response to his knock the smile
slipped to his lips
She who had opened the door was both
joyous and beautiful.
Il have an engagement ring Roger |
said quickly, land I seek the one to |
whom it belongs"
A silvery laugh followed his words. The
girl in the doorway motioned him Within /
and when the door had closed behind him !
Roger felt suddenly weak. Was it the |
perfume of the girls sunny head or the
knew not what had pierced his being |
with the swiftness of an arrow.
do you know" the girl was saying |
as she led the way to a dainty room
that overlooked the river, you are the
tenth man who has been here in answer |
to my advertisement.
ttThen you are NJ. CARR? Roger found |
himself asking. He mechanically held |
toward her the ring he had bought.
An involuntary exclamation of surprise
left Madge Cars lips A little flush had |
stolen into her cheeks while she exam |
ined the clear sparkling stone
Roger had ample time to admire the |
golden curls that could have peeped from /
beneath the lace cap had she worn one.
1T is not my ring-I am sorry to say" !
she told him with a smile that stirred |
Rogers heart to action. 1T is such |
beauty"
But it has your initials inside Roger /
her. There was so much dis |
appointment in his voice that Madge |
laughed aloud.
81 am more sorry than ever-that it is |
not nine'' she said and slipped the ring /
onto her engagement finger.
Rogers eyes cleaned and he knew then
and there that some day he would make |
Madge Carr wear his ring. He arose tc
go.
There is no chance of my knowing the |
man to whom you are engaged, sup
pose he said IT know a awful lot of /
men," He looked down at her and his |
Jaw had squared. He could almost see
her slim white fingers turning the spout L