South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-27
THE TELEPHONE RINGS.

ever known. Feeling that | had
wronged his brOtherly kindness by
not delaying my marriage until ne
/ had come back from the wilderness
/ | had delayed telling him of my
marriage until our reunion dinner
! should be over
| Because Of this delay I had found
out that Jack had loved me for
years. As If this astonishing fact
were not enough to upset me, / had
lost my wedding and engagement
rings which / had foolishly taken
off before the dinner. that Jack
might rot guess my marriage until
7 was ready 10 tell him
That / had speedily found them
again did not lessen the shock l had
received when / thought they were
lost. My nerves were still quiyering
from the fright | had had
/ shrank from the ordeal that was
still before me. When he left me-
Jack had told me that as soon as
had composed myself / must tele-
phone Dicky and join him at the
Underwoods' home. He also said
that at the first opportunity ] must
tell Dicky everything that had pass
ed. I knew his advice was sound,
but every quivering nerve III my
body protested against doing any
thing save hiding IN my darkened
bedroom.
The jangle of the telephone bell
struck my nerves as whip might
have done. Who could be calling
me- I went TO the telephone and
shuddered as Harry UnderwOod's
voice came to my ears
The Aftermath.
Mrs. Graham ?" Harry Under
woods voice was as smooth as ever.
told myself az / listened that 1
should never overcome my dislike
and fear of this man.
Yes" l said shortly.
"Ah. / thought you would be at
home by this time" he went on.
Made up my mind to chance 1t
anyway before / went home. Just
wanted to tell you that you needn't
be afraid of my saying anything
about your losing your rings. OF
course, you know. l couldn't help
; seeing your hand when / was
l
yarn of having lost nothing of value
didn't go down with yours truly.
, I'm too old a bird to swallow that
story. But NUNS the word. my
, dear. I'd cut my tongue out before
. I'd say anything. That will be our
, little secret. yours and mine I'm
delighted To share anything with
you. if it's only "A secret"
] stood i'm absolute silence when
, he had finished. For a minute al
least ] could think of no reply 10
make him. one thing was clear to
. me. however. On no account must
; he he permitted to think that he
shared any secret with me. or had
, any hold, however slight. upon me
Il don't understand you" I said
: at last. 81 have lost no rings The
only ones l own are my engagement
, and wedding rings, and they are
upon my hand at this moment You
did not see them on my hand when
r you saw me at the door of the res
I taurant because they were in my
, mesh bag. BY a mistake | had worn
a pair OF gloves that were too tight
D and | had to take off the rings pre-
paratory TO putting on my rings"
very clever, upon my word.
, The smooth voice at the other end
OF the telephone held note OF
mockery now You'll do. decided
ly. 1 didn't think you had it ir
, you. Girls with sanity Puritan
r faces like yours shouldn't be able "a
tell such good ones on such short
notice Where did you get your
, practice ?"
, \ Tempting Thoght.
The insOlence of him. The insult
ferable insolence, How / wished
, had the power TO strike from his
. face the hooking smile I knew il
must wear What was il Jack had
said of this man:
Il haven't even the privilege OF
knocking him down without making
, things worse for YOU"
But there was a man who die
have that privilege. knew that
careless as Dicky might be much as
he liked the Underwoods | could
rouse his anger against Harr,
Underwood If wished to do so.
made up my mind TO tread very
, carefully but to take no more p1
the kind of talk he was giving me
Mr.. Underwood" My voice sur
prised myself. il was so angry. dc
YOU mean to say that you doubt my
word o"
That YOU have your rings?" hC
q interrupted. "Oh, no. / understand
YOU must have found them. But
e. that you did not lose them for d
time this morning-tell that to the
5 marines my dear. not 10 your Uncle
/ Dudley. But don't you care. I'll
never mention il to Dicky. pom my
! honor. even if you are the crosses
. little lady ] know"
. For "A moment a sudden wild
Z temptation came to me. ! dreaC
inexpressibly TO tell Dicky that
had taken off my wedding and en-.
\ gagement rings because I did no
want my cousin Jack 10 guess
was married before our dinner
should be over.
Why not accept the goods tn.
gods provided treat Harry Under
wood more courtepusly. and accep
| his promise never 10 speak of IN,
incident?