The Springdale news., 1915-06-11
RING AND A GIRL
By ROBERT RUSSELL.
Copyright.

yawned, stretched, glanced at the clock. and jumped hastily out of bed. It was nearly nine o'clock, and had been awakened by the buzzer of our apartment. 1 was accustomed to being called in the morning by my mother, and as she was away on this particular day, had overslept.
 Scarcely awake, I slipped on my bathrobe and slippers, opened the door bit, and received from the lad stand ing there four suits of clothes that had been to the tailors for rejuvenation.
 Blinking, l got the requisite two dol lars from my pocketbook, paid the lad, and hurriedly made my toilet for the day, thinking meanwhile of the deli cious coffee and toast and boiled eggs which my mother was in the habit of preparing for me, and which I would not get on this particular morning
 But as it was so late when l was finally ready for public appearance, decided to wait till I had put in an ap- pearance at the office before break fasting. and l went directly to the sub way station near at hand.
 My hand in my change pocket, as I stood before the ticket window, suf- fered a shock. There was nothing there except four pennies and two keys. And I remembered we'll enough now that had no bills
 It was Saturday, and pay day, but that benefited me little. when I was nna ;xyx1 street, and the office on lower Broad way.
 1 had given my last two dollars to the boy from the tailor shop, and now l had not enough money to get down town If had not been so sleepy when the lad had come with my clothes I would have remembered my unusual financial condition.
 Of course, could walk down town, but that would take over two hours, and l was late as it was Perhaps the ticket agent would lend me a penny, but could not get myself to beg it of him.
 Of course, all sorts of ideas flashed through my mind, but each involved explaining L.y predicament to some- one \ flash from my ring gave me an inspiration. would pawn il for my car fare and return that afternoon after I had received my pay and re- deem 1t
 Across Aforningside park. on Eighth avenue, I had noticed place where the three golden balls gave promise Of help to the needy
 My aunt had sent me ten dollars about week before, telling me to get ring for my birthday with the money. and the ring I now took off was the one I had procured.
 How much do you want?' asked the proprietor
 Twenty-Five cents" I replied faint ly.
 parent surprise.
 Better take a dollar" he replied It won't cost any more in interest"
 All right
 All wanted to do was to get out of the shop as fast as possible
 Your name and address," he in- quired. making out the ticket
 1 had not reckoned on this, and did not like the idea of having those facts on record in such a place, so I gave fictitious name and false address. remembered now having heard an ac quaintance of mine say that he always did that
 Gnic l. yirc h in the book and on the ticket, and laid the latter on the counter while he got the money for me
 I arrived at the office a little after ten o'clock, explained truthfully that l had oyerslept and slipped out to get some breakfast All through the day the finger on which had worn the ring seemed to cry out, and when I re- eeived my weekly salary 1 felt as though one dollar of it did not belong to he
 l. was late in the afternoon that the telegram came The girl hoped to marry was to arrive in the city for short visit to her aunt and uncle, the latter being Eleanor $ guardian
 1 was to me her, of course A sud- den chill shot through me when I re- membered that 1 had written her al about the unique ring had purchased and realized that, with her interest in odd bits of iewelry, she would want to see it al once
 But when the office closed and left to meet Eleanor at the Grand Central station l put such worries from me in the anticipation of seeing her again It had been long time since we had been together.
 She was just as beautiful as ever. and, as l expected, spoke almost i'm mediately about the ring I was care full to have my gloves on and turned her inquiry off, saying that I would show it to her that evening
 For We were to be happy was to call al her auntis, meet her uncle and guardian for the first time, and get his permission to marry his ward We