Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-03-04

A00 sure enough tnat was tnA
amount specified. but I knew that I
had received only one dollar.
u guess you made q mistake" l re-
piled. bic angrily. I had heard that
these men were sometimes crooked.
but THE was outrageous.
The fellow had the ring In his hands
now. and was unwrapping the paper
which was about IL. 7 glanced at the
thing. it was not mine! Then I looked
at the ticket. The name there was not
the one I had given. There was q ter.
rible mistake somewhere.
That isn't my ring!" cried. mine
was entirely different from that"
This 10 pretty good ring. how
ever" smiled the man. Evidently he
thought that was biuflng.
But I want my own" I remon-
strated.
The fellow turned away In disgust.
You presented this ticket" he re-
piled You can have the ring that
this calls for. and no other. II you pay
the loan and interest. Take II or leave
t."
My mind worked rapidly. must
have q ring. and this was truly a beau.
tiful one. much more valuable than
mine. IL there had been a mistake
somewhere would be much better of
TO have this one. for IL the owner want
ed IL back he would have TO get mine
for me-.
In some way the rings must have
been exchanged. and must have the
ticket belonging to the man who had
mine. Anyway. wanted TO get out of
the place an quickly as could.
IAN right" I said, handing over the
necessary sum. Give me the ring.
win leave my real name and address.
and IL anyone calls with n ticket that
does not belong to him. md wants this
ring back. I'll be only too glad to ex-
change II he will pay the difference"
The transaction was completed, and
I left the place with the dazzling thing
on my finger. II was the most pecu-
liar piece OF jewelry ] have ever seen.
Eleanor and had q very happy half
hour together. but was consumed
with the desire to talk to her guardian
and begged her TO let me have Il over
with. She had admired the ring tre
mendousiy and expressed the opinion
that it was very valuable.
Tam going to leave you with uncle" I"
she said. as she led the way to his
study. 1T might be q little embar.
raising for me-"
So she took me to the door OF the old
mans den. introduced me to him and
with blush was gone.
II am an outspoken man." he said
when we were alone, "and I do not be
lieve in beating about the bush. ]
know very little Of you. sir. but Flea
nor is old enough to know her own
mind, and Il seems that she has made
II up most emphatically. Perhaps ]
am bit Of O sentimentaiist, and there
ID but one thing want to ask you"
He stopped moment and looked me
straight In the eyes. his scrutiny In
tense.
Il want to hear you say" he contin
ued at last. that you love Eleanor
want you to put all the feeling you
have In that statement. 30 that ] may
Judge for myself Just how deep that
feeling is.''
Now, II there was one thing I felt
could do. Il was to tell of my love
for that girl.
! moved to the table by which he
sat presume that my eyes filed
with tears. At any rate, laid my hand
on the table close TO him, where the
bright light from the lamp shone bril-
liant
81 love-" I began.
But he was looking at my eyes no
longer. His head was bent Suddenly
he rose.
I know nothing Of you" he cried
and now he was quite q different sort
OF q person. You may be an adven
turer-or worse"
Then his voice rose to O shrill cry
Where did you get my ring-my
ring that was stoleI from me night be-
fore last? Where did you get it?"
His trembling finger was pointed nj
my hand. and I fear that my hand
trembled. ! was speechIess. and my
confusion was plain. He was trembling
all over and saw him press a button
on the corner OF the table.
To save my life I could not speak.
How could explain the complicated
circumstance? Ny glance fell to the
floor.
- stammered.
Then I heard him speak again, but
not to me.
Jenkins" he said to someone who
had evidently answered his ring nj the
bell. tell Miss Eleanor to please come
here at once"
Yes. sir" heard q voice.
Suddenly looked up.
There before me In the doorway
stood an old gentleman I had seen that
morning In the pawn shop. He saw the
ring.
With Q groan. the old fellow fell into
q chair.
II developed that he had stolen his
masters ring. pawned it and, In our
nervousness. the tickets lying side by
side. he had picked up mine and his.
got my own ring the next day. and
now have my own girl