The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-14
ONLY A JOKE
ey MARTHA M. WILLIAMS.

You're fine person
John Andrew had shirked Anne
first house party for whose success
she was so anxious.
Had a party-and then some-eh"
be queried jauntily.
Il know l treated you badly, Anne
Some day you shall know why hac
to do it
May tell you right now" Anne
asked red spots flaming in her cheeks
Her readiness startled him.
II wish to heaven you would tel
me-what you think it was" he an
swered.
Il don't Think know" she de
clared. "Cowardice. You thought Ia
make scene over Lima Loree! AS II
cared l begged her to announce
your engagement When she wouldn't
/ all but did it myself"
ENGAGEMENT, To whom am | en-
gagged he questioned amazedly.
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 1t meant she
didn't deny"
Il see" John Andrew broke in.
Say, Anne, we've grown up together
and you know me Have ever told
you lie except about trifes or in a
good cause?"
"No-so please don't begin 1t 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 re-
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 it 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 he mistaken in her as
sertion as to its present whereab bouts,
but so 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 it 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 always 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 a gallant good.
by and galloped briskly home.
Now John Andrew. face TO face
with the problem of his life, dared not
speak out. II would be shameful to
accuse 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:
Il can't explain-not now-but if
II bring my mothers ring. may put
it-where you know have always
meant 1t to go9"
She shook her head slightly The
age of miracles is past" she said re-
gretfully.
Il 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 a lit.
tie smothered exclamation. 1t was not
empty, but as he lifted the shining
bauble within it and held II 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 spy.
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 m
meet him even a little more than half
way.
Without word, he took the clumsy
substitute from the ring case and held
it out to her.
Oh, see.' she laughed knowingly
You have returned to Longyiew TO
make an exchange"
Yes" he returned pointedly. "of
course know you meant 1t as a Joke
but ! assure you there is a serious
side to it. The ring actually belongs