The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-12-22
The SAPPHIRE ring
sy ELLIS BROWNE.

har IN the tennis match at West
Waters.
As he held her slim fingers in his.
he was startled by a change in her
onnearance. Lucille, the gay and light
hearted, wore worried look.
What is the matter, dearest?" he
asked in alarm.
Nothing" she evaded. drawing
away her hands.
He touched her third finger play
fully. Where is the guardian ring?"
he demanded.
Lucille paled. 81 cannot find It," she
said, after a moments hesitation. Il
am sure it is around the place some
where; l will look again" Tears filled
her eyes.
As the car carried them over to
West Waters, Lucille and Robert
scarcely exchanged a word. By the
time they reached the clubhouse Rob-
ert was in a Jealous rage. He re-
membered that George Letterby had
been the most formidable rival for
Lucile's heart and he wondered II
Lucille had changed her mind.
Robert went to play in the singles.
and one of his opponents was George
Letterby. 1t was while Letterby was
serving a ball to Robert that the lat
ter noticed Lucile's sapphire ring on
his opponents little finger.
Some ringl" smiled Letterby across
the net.
Robert nodded grimly.
Thirty Lowell" called Letterby
mockingly.
Hot anger filled Roberts heart. The
battle between the two men was q
real one, and although Robert carried
OF the tennis honors. his storming
heart admitted that Letterby was the
victor in another contest. II not. what
excuse was there for Letterby wear
ing the betrothal ring given by him
to Lucille?
When the match was over. Robert
found that Lucille had pleaded head
ache and gone home with a friend.
He did not wait for congratulations
on his victory; he sped home in his
motor car, wrote a bitter letter of re-
nunciation to Lucille, and the next
morning was on his way TO Califor-
mia.
On inc fhCluC COhbl IueIc was q
tiny hamlet which is a paradise for
fshermen. There Robert Hanford In
trenched himself and determined to
write a book upon the fighting habits
OF the big gamy fish of the Pacific
waters.
One day, Just as he had determined
to return to New York and his neg
lected business interests. Robert met
newly arrived sportsman on the
beach. He would have passed the
man without recognition had not the
newcomer paused and spoken.
Il don't believe you remember me.
Mr.. Hanford." hazarded the stranger.
and rendered a card.
Rodeburg & Rodeburg.
20 Maiden Lane,
Manufacturing Jewellers.
it read.
Il remember-you did some work
for me-a ring" he said at last.
Mr.. Rodeburg beamed. "A special
ring-a very fine sapphire set in dull
gold-you said the stone belonged tc
your mother"
You have a good memory" smiled
Robert
Il remember It especially well be
cause your friend came in and asked
US to copy the ring-said you had 'ent
II to him for a day. l remember W
had to work all night over IT, as hi
wanted to return the ring. but We An
ished it."
My friend brought the ring?" re
peated Robert amazedly.
MIR. Letterby was his name
What date was ?" demanded Rot
ert.
Mr.. Rodeburg named the date-th
day before the West Waters tenni
match. He only allowed US to keel
Is "a hours" he added. ITS funn,
coincidence, Mr.. Hanford. that l JUS
saw a duplicate of that ring-th
young lady under that striped un
brella is wearing one on her engage
ment finger"
He jumped with surprise as Rot
ert wrung his hand and dashed o.
to the striped umbrella. under whic
Lucille reclined on a steamer chat
her sad eyes looking dreamily on
upon the sea.
At his approach Lucille lifted he
eyes and wave of hot color su1use
her thin cheeks.