Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-01-22
HER PECULIAR RING.
What Happened When Robina's
Sister Wore Her Engage
ment Band.
By MOLLY MINISTER.


pleasure In the mystery surrounding
all things. He compared the dimp
lit thoroughfare with the glare of hi
native city, and found the enforced
darkness OF London at least mote
sensational than Broadway under It's
myriad lights.
However, Bradley realized that he
would soon again be back in New
York, and that 1t was privilege to
have seen London during war times
and shrouded In its cautious gar
ments of shadows. The city certain
~ held many interests and Bradley
regretted that he had not more time
at his disposal that he might prolong
his stay.
He drew out his cigar lighter pre-.
paratory to enjoying a few puffs OF
smoke before entering his lodgings
on Holland Park avenue. Bradley
had scarcely raised his light to his
pipe when a voice arrested him-an
historical voice that came from the
complete gloom of the roadway.
'Oh, do please let me have that
quickly. Il have been groveling in
the pitch darkness for my ring.
dropped 1t from my bag and don't
dare to leave the spot for fear of not
finding 1t again" Her tone was
high-pitched and Bradley knew that
she was frightfully upset and on the
verge OF tears. He knew. also, that
r. I.1s fszl N
perhaps from her soft furs. but he
could get no glimpse of her face.
Wen find the ring IN a minute
he told her with a laugh in his voice.
You just stand still where you are.
SO / will know where to look" He
bent down and with his small ben
zine lighter managed to throw tiny
wedge of illumination across the
path.
The stone walk was Icy cold to the
touch as he ran his hand over 1t,
and 1t was some minutes before the
diminutive searchlight probed the
right shadows and fiared over the lost
ring.
A little cry of delight left the girls
lips. The ring was an exquisite bow
knot OF aquamarines and diamonds.
That was all Bradley could see be-
fore the benzine lighter fiuttered out.
'Tt has done its duty anyway" he
said as he handed the girl her treas
ure and for a fieeting second touched
the cool of her slim fingers.
But you cannot light your pipe
now" she said with sweet apology In
her voice. Tn so sorry"
Plenty Of matches" said Bradley.
and would have drawn out his box
save that the girl held out her hand
TO him by way of thanks.
IT would have had to sit here until
daylight had you not come along"
she told him. II thank you very
much for helping me-"
She slipped away into the darkness
and Bradley was left with only the
realization that her hand was slim
and soft. and that 1t had sent pc
culiarly pleasant wave OF emotion
over him.
by Jove-I wish would have got
q glimpse OF her face. She may be
goggle-eyed and squinty for all
know" He managed q light for his
pipe the while he pondered over the
girl and her possible identity. Sound
ed a bit Yankee" he decided, and felt
more hopeful that she would again
be flung across his path since he, too,
hailed from the land of American
Beauties.
IT will have to find the ring again"
he muttered, land flash my small
searchlight on her face" Bradley
hoped the girl was not engaged, but
he felt reasonably sure that she would
not have been practically in Mysteries
over the loss of any but betrothal
ring.
However, the interests of business
and the return trip to New York dis
PEELED all memories OF mysterious
nights of darkness and the entrance
of the girl into his horizon. She
might have been a myth springing
from darkened London, and Bradley
had soon forgotten the incident
He had not been home three weeks
before the scene was flung wildly
across his brain. Bradley was at
tending an engagement party at the
home of one of his friends when he
suddenly caught sight of the ring he
had picked up for the girl in London.
At least Bradley supposed 1t to be
the ring, and in second he was at
the side Of the girl who wore it. He
was In no way attracted to the girl,
and her hair was not golden nor were
her eyes violet-two essentials of
feminine beauty in Bradley's eyes.
He took out his small benzine cigar
lighter and flashed it on the girls
face who was wearing the ring. After
that he waited for the start OF sur
| prise from her.
Robina Bassingford looked askance
i at Bradley.
Il am not a battleship on the
coast" she said with laugh, nor
| am the eaemv's ercampmeut SO why