Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-03-27
THE MISSING
RING
A Dramatic Incident at a
Dinner Party
By MOLuE K. wETHEREL

persons or thereaD bouts lady who had
recently returned from abroad wore
on her finger a ring she had brought
from Rome. II 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, archaeologists placed
1t as belonging 70 the time of Angus
tus Caesar The ring having been no.
ticed by some one sitting near 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 period and probably the
most interesting to modern European
races in history led to q 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
q 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 1t.
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. A suspicion therefore
arose among those present that it had
been stolen by one 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
scandal Then the host, evidently
much moved. said:
''It looks as though we had in our
midst thief, and yet 1 have perfect
confidence that such Is not the case
Nevertheless every person present is
0AdCA cuSlA-AOAA nat tkCAa OAE
be cleared of that suspicion l propose
that we each and all submit to be
searched l 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
heard my proposition. Let those who
are willing to submit to it say Aye Z"
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
the young man in astonishment.
"Mr Huxford," said the host with
dilated nostrils and flashing eyes, "do
you confess yourself a thiefT
"No."
"Then why do you object to clearing
this matter up?"
81 do not care to state my reasons"
Huxford sat toying with the stem of
q 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:
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, 81
cannot replace your property, but l
shall send to a 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 responsi
BILE and would make it 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 lose,
Of the ring. ''is 1t your wish to call
upon the police to regain your ringY
Certainly not; would not think OF
such thing"
Every well, Mr.. Huxford. You NAV
withdraw"
All eyes were fixed on Huxford. who
left the room without turning his hack
to the company, making a slight fncli.
nation just before passing through the
door He left roomful of persons IN.
fiuenced by different emotions Som,
blamed the host for permitting him to
depart without attempting to secure
the ring; some felt that he had noted
wisely. but no one expressed an opin
bn. The episode was discussed in
general terms by the company all TAX
ing part except Miss Louise Trover
who seemed to have been stunned nv
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. Miss
Trover's reply was. 81 can't under
stand it," Miss Sheldon's was al hayt
no 0DiuiO, RI nvnros., l.. AZ. =,