Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-14

once again MS lips SNAPPED themselves
to a whistle as he strode rapidly away.
III.
On a Wednesday morning three
weeks later John Oakley walked into
the outer office Of Furnivars suit,
which he found entirely unguarded by
office boy or stenographer, and passed
without hindrance to Freddy's room.
As he entered the young lawyer hastily
thrust something into his waistcoat
pocket and rose to greet his friend
with rather forced cordiality.
Congratulations, old chap! Freddy
cried. 81 heard it this morning."
/ 1T isn't generally known yet" said
Oakley.
Good news travels fast, you know"
Freddy rejoined. II had the pleasure
Of meeting Ginhouliac some weeks ago.
He Is splendid fellow"
Indeed he is," Oakley agreed. "His
people are great shakes in Italy. bis
fathers a privy councillor"
"You don't sayF' Freddy commented.
trifle incredulous.
"He's quite an athlete. too," Oakley
went on admiringly.
$50 Taylor was telling me-" Freddy
broke In. "He kicked Taylor down
Mott street for block and half"
There surely must have been some
provocation."
There was. Taylor smoked six Of
his cigars"
"Six cigars oughtn't to disturb him
like that" said Oakley. Hes the soul
Of generosity. Why, the ring he gave
Mary Is absolutely priceless. It's an
heirloom IN his family-a large ruby
set with four brilhants. Perfectly
stunning thing-you ought to see I'll"
II have seen It."
"What?" Oakley cried. Impossible!
He only gave 1t to Mary yesterday aft.
ernoon."
"As matter Of fact" Freddy went
on calmly, II believe have 1t In my
waistcoat pocket right now."
"What on earth are you talking
about"
For answer Freddy took the ring
from his waistcoat pocket and tossed
1t upon the desk blotter.
Large ruby and four diamonds" he
said, according to plans and specifca-
tons"
Oakley lay back in his chair and
gasped like landed trout.
Perhaps" he said ut length, you'll
be good enough to explain this-this"-
'By all MEANS Freddy replied.
This morning when came In found
Taylor tossing n small object in the air
and catching 1t again with such rapid
| ty that 1t looked like lot Of colOred
balls issuing from Roman candle. AS
soon as he saw me he pocketed 1t. My
curiosity being aroused. proceeded to
knuckle him."
"Knuckle himW
Precisely" Freddy went on. "A
schoolboy trick. Hurts like thunder.
Old Torquemada knew his business,
Oakley, for 1t wasn't five minutes be-
fore I had 1t out Of my worthy young
friend, and there you see It."
"How did Taylor get hold Of itY ask.
ed Oakley.
more knuckling made him tell" said
Freddy. HE confessed that last night
he attended the Benvenuto Cellini cir
Gle, having made his peace with Gin
houliac. OF course he noticed Mary
wearing the ring, and when she went
| into the anteroom to wash her hands
and returned without 1t he concluded
that she must have left 1t on the lava
tory. That's precisely what she had
done, as he found out immediately-and
there you are. Lucky came In just
when l did"
"And where Is Taylor nowY
1--WE fred him." said Freddy. i've
meant to do 1t every day for the past
three weeks, but I've always forgotten
about 1t until today"
"Why on earth didn't you have him
arrested"
whats the user Freddy yawned
I'VE have the ring. and now let us go
and take 1t back to Mary"
Nv.
The Oakleys dwelt In an English
basement residence on West End ave-
nue.. One glance at the white loaded
fanlight Of the colonial front door and
the curtained elegance OF the upper
windows established the Oakley re-
spectability as firmly as did the family
Bible and the Social Register" be-
meath the big mahogany table In the
library. 1t was to this chamber that
Freddy had been ushered by Oakley
on their arrival
Light up while 60 and find Mary"
he said, and started for the door.
Hardly had he reached 1t, however,
when from the lower floor came Il cry.
half of rage, half Of hysteria, which
at once halted Oakley and brought
Freddy to his feet.
"Now, what in the world Is that"
Oakley calculated.
Another wall arose, and then follow
ed the words:
"You lost eet, you lost eet."
"Ginhouliacr' Freddy whispered.
Hes got 'em bad!'
"Ah, no, no, no. no" re-echoed
through the house.
"By George. he has nuse and Bern
hardt simply skinned to death" Fred
dy chuckled.
"Give me the ring, Freddy" Oakley
said. II think I'll go downstairs and
kick him out"
Mingled with Mary's soothing con-
tralto and Glnhouliac's shrill hysteria
came an expostulatory growl.
"Confound 1t, sir. you're behaving
like fool!" 1t said.
"The GOVERNOR Oakley exclaimed.
when | was kid he always said
'Confound 1t, SIR Just before he whal-
ed the life out Of me. Exertion's bad
for him, too. I guess I'll go down."
He took the stairs four at a jump,
while Freddy went back to the library
and closed the door behind him. For
ten minutes the mufiled sound Of voices
came in faint waves from the ground
floor. until decisive bang of. the front