Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-06-18
CHAPTER XIX.
A Tragedy.

fa9N0J
a PRS. RUTLEDGE and her hus
HAx# band were interested when
4V1 the Tribune printed the an
nouncement that "Roland
Gregory and Miss Joy Graham are to
be married Oct. 90" Poor Joy!' was
their comment. maybe she can re
form him."
"By the way" said Mrs. Rutledge
81 saw Mrs. Mobray yesterday morn
ing, and she asked me about that ring
which she gave me a long time ago."
"What ring?' said Allan Rutledge.
1.-THE ring which Mrs. Mobray found
ON the finger of Mae after her death
You remember l gave 1t to you"
"Ohr' exclaimed the minister. 81 re
member. l had forgotten In some way
altogether about It," He took oui
the gold band which he had laid IN the
drawer the evening previous to the
midnight tour of Bronson.
81 shall attend to this at once" he
said, taking the ring and laying 1t on
his desk.
4uu mOIuluE Ho Scul u itIltI W q
jewelry firm in Chicago, inclosing the
ring and asking them to trace, If pos
sible, the buyer.
In two weeks he received a letter, re-
turning the ring and giving as the
name of the buyer a prominent citizen
in Bronson.
Allan R~utledge read the name and
gasped, Can 1t be possibleY'
And when Reginald Nelson was
shown the letter he was amazed as
well. The ring found on the Sead
girls hand was purchased by Roland
Gregory.
The Tribune had inaugurated a Sc.
ries of articles on the industrial condi
lions in Bronson. One of them showed
the d%eplorable affairs in Gregory's fac
tory. Roland consulted MI. Graham,
who, however, decided not to bring a
libel suit for him.
Roland Gregory had been drinking
somewhat that day, and he left the
office Of Mr.. Graham in no pleasant
mood. After visiting his club, where
he fortified himself with a few more
glasses, he wended his way to the
Tribune office.
"Good morning, Mr.. Gregory" said
Reginald. He wondered at the visit,
for he was soon to confront Roland
with his knowledge Of the Mobray
girls ring. The marriage of Roland
and Joy now seemed impossible. 81
hope you like Bronson's new paper"
he added.
ITO HI with your paper!'' replied
the other iercely. "Wha do you mean
by sending a spy to my factory to
sneak around and find out about my
private affairs?'
IF l have overstepped my rights as
an editor the law courts are open,'' de-
clared Reginald firmly.
"Ill soon have you in COURT" shout
ed the other, attempting to strike the
editor in the face. Reginald saw that
his visitor was partially intoxicated.
He warded of the blow which Roland
Gregory aimed at him and seized him
by the collar. Shaking him roughly,
the editor marched the helpless manu-
facturer before him out Of his private
office and gave him a push into the
street.
After a talk with Mr.. Rutledge that
night about Gregory and Mae Mo
bray's ring Reginald called at Roland
Gregory's Office.
"What do you want, sir?" asked Ro-
land Gregory, with a surprised frown
at Reginald as he entered.
"Have you ever seen that ring be-
foref" Reginald handed the ring
which Allan Rutledge had given him
to Joy Graham's fance as he spoke.
Roland Gregory started as he saw
the ring. Roland took the ring and
examined it hastily. He handed 1t
back, saying scornfully, mo, / know
nothing about that ring"