Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-09-23

went there. She didn't complain abou
It after their big strike, but am afrait
the poor girl allowed the influence o
the place to spoil her"
The poor mother seemed glad to re
lieve her soul by telling in detail al
that she knew in regard to her daugh
ter. II wanted to tell all this to some
one," she said as she finished, "but Il
is terrible thing for me to speak o.
these things unless to some one like
you.
"Here is the ring Mae had on hel
finger" said the woman tearfully
handing a beautiful marriage ring t.
Mrs. Rutledge. 81 did not say any
thing about this to any one before, as
I thought / would let the poor girl:
secret die with her, but something
tells me / ought to tell the whole
truth"
"You will feel better after this con
fession," said Mrs. Rutledge sympa
thedcally. al will give this ring tc
DR.. Rutledge. 1t will help solve the
tragedy and may prevent another
There are some men in our modern
American life, often In honored posi-
lions, whose private lives are unspeak-
able"
what did she talk to you about for
so long when you We're together
asked Joy later, moved by a not un.
natural curiosity.
"She was telling me some more of
the details connected with the sad fate
of her daughter. cannot tell you
about it now, but some time / will.
DR.. Rutledge asked me to find out"
That evening Mrs. Rutledge told her
husband Mrs. Mobray's story in full
and also gave him the ring which the
woman had given her.
81 thought there was more that she
knew" said Allan Rutledge seriously
when his wife had finished. II have
some dark suspicious already, but l
will not allow them to influence me
until get proof. If Mae Mobray was
murdered there must be something
done. Justice must not become by
word In Bronson just because the vic
tim happens to be a poor girl
81 was telling Mrs. Mobray about
your plan to make her official baby
tender at the church." said the wife a
little later, land she seemed delighted
with the prospects. We must arouse
the woman and get her interested in
some kind of work. Her condition was
pitiable when called today, but
think Joy and did her some good"
"What a treasure of girl Joy Ora
ham Isl" said DR.. Rutledge enthusiast
tically. But l can't bear the thought
of her marrying Roland Gregory"
"She spoke to me this afternoon
about Roland. She thinks it Is part of
her duty to win him to the better life"
II never believed in this business of
marrying men to reform them. 1t
never worked yet, and it never will.
1t only means broken hearts and two
wrecked lives instead of one" The
minister spoke earnestly and added,
Il am going to preach soon from the
text BE not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers,' and shall say some
pertinent things on this very subject
"Your sermon will be too late to
help JOY" said the wife, shaking her
head. "She has already plighted heI
troth to Roland, and she feels that she
is already bound to him. She spoke to
me little about it today"
DIR. RutIedge looked grave. and the
conversation was interrupted by the
entrance Of little Abraham in his pa
jamas to say good night. The mother
left the room with her son, and Allan
Rutledge sat alone with his thoughts.
In his hand he still held the ring
which Mrs. Mobray had given to his
wife. He looked at the gold band for
a moment and then said to himself:
"Pledge Of falsehood and token of
cruelty, you represent to me all that
is lowest and vilest In the soul Of a
man. Speak, guilty ring, and tell me
your fatal secret"
The ring lay, shining and beautiful,
in the palm Of his hand.
"No," he continued, speaking aloud.
beautiful ring of gold, thou art inno-
cent. Alas, how the most sacred
things are trampled under foot by
swinish men,"
He examined the ring closely and
noticed a little number stamped on
the inside, along with special trade
mark.
II can get this ring identified" he
said to himself quickly as he looked
at the distinguishing mark on the
ring. II shall send 1t tomorrow to
a detective agency in Chicago. This
ring win tell its secret. and IL there
is blood on 1t the murder will out"
He put the ring carefully in a draw
err in his desk expecting to send 1t to
Chicago the following day, but that
very night he had visitor who drove
all thought Of the ring out of his mind.
Soon after Allan Rutledge deposited
the fatal ring in the drawer his door
bell rang. He arose and went to the
door himself and was somewhat sur
prised to see Reginald Nelson stand
ing there.