South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-05

she clutched at the finger as though
hoping her eyes had tricked her and
that she would feel il laere. But there
MS only the faint depression where
the ring had been.
Dazed and tremulous. Helen felt
about her dress, shook her skirts and
looked blindly around
She had been Strengthening the work
basket. and as she wound a spool OF
thread her glance had fallen on the
finger where always sparkled her en-
gagement ring.
Snstching a newspaper she trem-
bllngly emptied on il the contents
of the work basket. Feverishly she
looked among the spOOls and buttons.
For one brief second she thought she
saw the flash OF the diamOnd-but
TT wal only a rhinestone buckle.
Maggie - Maggie-Oh, Maggiel"
she called Come here a moment!
ON. I've lost my ring" excitedly, my
1:amond ring, Come help me look"
Helen was already turning up the
rugs and searching about the room.
But Maggie, who was not Of an ex
citable nature. asked stOlidly.
when did you have it last. nam %
"Oh. ] just missed IL nOw-just this
moment" turning up the same corner
of the same rug for the third time.
But when d'you remember seeing
Il last2"
Trying to Think.
Helen stared at her blankly. When
had she seen it last? She could not
think Did she have IL that morning?
Last nj hit She must have had II
or she would have missed it before
this.
For the next hour they both search
ed OF one thing Helen was certain
washstand, for she never took it off
10 wash her hands. II had never
0een off her finger since Warren
placed IL there four years ago.
Yet ii seemed almost incredible
that 10 could have slipped Off She
had known that she was thinner, the
scales when last she weighed showed
that-117. when her usual weight was
1870 But would only three pounds
less make any difference in her fin
gers? They did not seem thinner and
she had not been conscious that the
ring was loose.
Il can't look any more now, man.
I'll have TO see about dinner. If it's
here-yOuu find it. I'll look good
tomorrow when 1 sweep"
"Oh. the carpet sweeper. Maggie!
Maybe you swept IL up this morning.
Empty it now TIN only take min
ute"
Maggie brought the carpet sweeper
ard they emptied IL out on a paper
With a long pencil Helen gingerly
turned over the mass OF dust matted
with hairs, threads and pins.
Folding up the trash in the paper
Maggie hurried out 10 the kitchen.
But Helen kept on lOOking-it must
be somewhere in the house. She had
not been out at all today. Yesterday
afternoon she had made dinner call
on Mrs. ThurstOn, had stopped at a
drug store and at the cleaners. Dot
she had not had her gloves off once.
The day before she had been shop
ping, but her mind refused to con-
cede that she could have lost II so
long ago. She felt certain that II had
been on her finger at breakfast.
Very SuperstitiOus.
In many ways Helen was very su-
perstitiOus, and besides the heart-
breaking loss Of the ring. there was
also the dread that it was bad
omen. Gould IT be a foreboding of
some trouble between Warren and
her? on. she must find it-she must
find it.
Not until time to dress for dinner
did she stop her search. And even as
she dressed she would dart OF every
few minutes as some new place to look
occurred TO her.
She could not tell Warren-at least
not tonight Surely she would find
IL tomorrow, The mere thought or
In spite of Helens effort to appear
as usual Warren saw at once that
something was wrong
whats the matter with your he
demanded at dinner. What makes
you so glum %
why, nothing dear. j m a little
tired that's all"
To Helen the evening seemed end
less Warren read and she tried 20
sew. but not for one instant was the
ring out OF her mind. And she was in
constant dread lest Warren should
see her bare finger and speak of II.
That night she could not sleep. she
tossed and turned and anguished over
the ring. In the morning she mao
one OF her sick heac1ches. which ner-
vous worry and lack Of sleep always
brought on.
You're not at a funeral, you
know" was Warren's caustic COM
ment. as he buttered his third piece
OF toast
ION. I know" with a forced laugh;
"it's this weather. I suppose. III De
ell right by evening
As Helen poured his second cup or
coffee he suddenly noticed her hand.
What's the matter Sharply.
where's your ringg"
-Oh. the stone was a little loose
one OF the prOngs was worn, ana
left IL 10 have il reset
Always some plausible unruth
seemed TO leap TO Helen's lips az such
times She was never deliberately de-
ceiving The words seemed always
To come OF themselves
More Lies.
"Why didn't you give it 20 me-
Where did you take it TO? Some snide
concern? THEY'LL change that stone
on YOU il you're not careful
"Oh, no. dear. / took il 20 Black
ford's I didn't want TO bother YOU
with IT,"
With unspeakable relief Helen saw
Warren off that morning AT least
he had not doubted her story of the
loose stone and she would surely find
the ring before night
Maggie swept carefully every room
and Helen went through every drawer
and closet. Boxes. clothes hampers.
shoe bags. every possible nook into
which the ring might have slipped