The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-28
ONLY A Joke
0y MARTHA NJ. WILLIAMS.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES >>>s>SesSsSssSsS
You're a fine person!"
John Andrew had shirked Anne's
FIRST house party. for whose success
she was so anxious.
Had a party-and then some-eh r"
he queried jauntily.
Il know l treated you badly. Anne.
Some day you shall know why had
to do tt"
May tell you right now?" Anne
asked. red spots flaming in her cheeks.
Her readiness startled him.
Il wish to heaven you would ten
me-what you think It was" he IN.
swered.
Il don't think-I know" she do
clared. "Cowardice! You thought I'd
make . scene over Lima Loree! Al II
/ cared! begged her to announce
your engagement When she wouldn't
al but did It myself"
"Engagement! To whom am I On.
gagged he questioned amasedly.
see here! Who says I'm engaged
to-anybody!" he demanded. his eyes
darkening.
Nobody! But Lima had on your
ring-and paraded It constantly. When
! told her knew what It meant she
didn't deny"
Il sect" John Andrew broke in.
Say. Anne, we've grown up together
and you know me. Have I ever told
you lie except about tribes or In
good csuse?"
"No-so please don't begin II now"
Anne returned. looking down. 1T
would be as foolish as It would be
wicked to deny things-after you've
given-any girl-your mothers own
ring"
1T surely would" John Andrew 70
turned. his lips setting hard. Here
indeed was a complication. The ring
was an heirloom.
He had always been very careful Of
that ring. seldom wearing and still
more rarely letting 1t pass out Of his
possession. Anne's touch Of it had al
ways pleased him-her taper fingers
had seemed to caress the bauble. She
could scarcely be mistaken in her as
sertion as to its present whereabouts,
but 80 far as he knew. the jewel was
safe within his strong box at home.
He had put It there, he told himself.
the morning he fed from Anne's house
party. Later. accusing memory re-
called to him that he had shown It to
Lima Loree. over at the Farnhams.
But she had certainly returned 1t to
his keeping. there on the corner Of the
piazza. saying with a strained little
laugh as she dropped It into the case
he held open. "Take It. John! But
not for slwaystI hope"
Those last words. only whispered,
had been John Andrews danger sig
nal. He had managed somehow to
laugh away their implication and had
then taken refuge in . gallant good
by and galloped briskly homo.
Now John Andrew. face to face
with the problem Of his life. dared not
speak out. It would be shameful to
accuse a gentlewoman upon mere sus-
| picion. Rather than that. he must let
Anne continue to misunderstood him.
Looking straight into her indignant
eyes, he said. unsteadily:
81 can't explain-not now-but If
II bring my mothers ring. may put
it-where Won know I have always
meant II to go?"
Che ohoolr hor HAD olt~h<yv ssvSh a
age Of miracles is past" she said re.
gretfully.
81 am going to restore your faith In
miracles-and in me-" he said, turn
ing away without another word.
As the case sprung open in his hand
John Andrew started back with q lit
tie smothered exclamation. It was not
/ empty. but as he lifted tho shining
bauble within II and held It to the
light. he laughed grimly.
There was indeed a superficial like
ness between the thing he held and
the thing he sought. Instantly he re-
called Lina's passion for the stage. her
long experience in private theatricals.
and realized that she had dextrously
attempted to palm on him this bit Of
stage trumpery. and then had been In.
discreet enough. or vain enough. or.
possibly. crafty enough, to wear the
Jewel she had taken In exchange.
Theft. he told himself. must not have
been the original impulse. but rather
the opportunity to triumph even mo
mentarily over her rival.
He wanted to swear at her, at him
self. at the whole world. But there
was not time-he must act instead.
Longview! Fifty miles distant! He
could make It before nightfall with his
speedy roadster.
Lima appeared to be neither sur
prised nor abashed at his return. She
met him with an air OF bravado which
seemed to imply that she had nothing
to conceal-that she was willing tc
meet him even little more than hall
way
Without a word, he took the clumsy
substitute from the ring case and helt
II out to her.
oh, see," she laughed knowingly
You have returned to Longview t
make an exchange"
YES" he returned pointedly. 20
course, know you meant 1t as a Joke
but | assure you there is a seriou
side to it. The ring actually belong
to Anne"