The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-27
The Euening Story
The Sapphire Ring.
(By Ellis Browne.)

1t was exactly four weeks after
Robert Hanford became engaged to
Lucille Ames that he came to take
her to the tennis match at West Wa
tiers.
AS he held her slim fingers in his,
he was startled by a change in her
appearance. Lucille, the gay and
light hearted, wore a 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. 81
am sure it is around the place some
where; 1 will look again" Tears
filled her eyes.
Don't worry, DEAR" he soothed her.
run and put your things on" And
after she had left the room he stared
out at the brilliant geranium beds on
the lawn, with a deep line between
his handsome eyes.
Why had Lucille acted so strangely
about the ring-so unlike her usual
frank self that her lover was puz-
zled? of course it was their betrothal
ring, and the stone had belonged to
his mother, and the setting was one
he had himself designed, still why
had she acted so constrained over its
loss?
AS the ear carried them over to
West Waters, Lucille and Robert
scarcely exchanged a word By the
item they reached the club house
Robert was in a jealous rage. He re-
membered that George Letterby had
been the most formidable rival for
Lucile's heart and he wondered if
Lucille had changed her mind.
Robert was to play in the singles,
and one of his opponents was George
Letterby.
1t was while Letterby was serving Il
ball to Robert that the latter noticed
Luc1le's sapphire ring on his oppo-
nent's little finger.
Some ring!" smiled Letterby across
the net.
Robert nodded grimly.
''Thirty-love'" called Letterby
mockingly.
Hot anger filled Roberts heart. The
battle between the two men was
real one, and although Robert carried
off the tennis honors, his storming
heart admitted that Letterby was the
victor in another contest If not, what
excuse was there for Lettcrby wearing
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 California.
He decided to remain away until he
had recovered from what he termed
his foolish infatuation.
On the Pacific coast there is a tiny
hamlet which is a paradise for fisher
men. There Robert Hanford intrench-
ed himself and determined to write
book upon the fighting habits of the
big gamy fish of the Pacific waters.
r1r.w~ i,
that thrashed the ocean into tumult
and crippled a coastwise steamer. so
that she lay at the mercy of wind and
waves. Finally the passengers were
brought ashore to be cared for by the
villagers and the sportsmen who were
stopping at Fisherman's Lodge.
Hanford was foremost among the
rescuers. He and his sturdy fisher
lads had made several trips out to the
stricken steamer and were removing
the last of the ships officers and pas