The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-29
Eoening Story
Four-Leaved CIovers.
BY MARTHA McCs WILLIAMl


springy, soft as velvet, green as en-
erald and sprinkled sparsely with fresh
white clover heads. The blue eyes
looking at it across a low railing had
a twinkle behind their usefulness, for
Janet Reed, their owner, was saying
half aloud: Now for a four-leafed
clover. I know if I were one this is
the exact spot where I would choose
to grow"
After deep breath she looked care
fully everywhere. The turf was de-
serted. Audaciously she scrambled
over the boundary. dropping to her
knees ten yards from it to search dill
gently the beguiling greenery's deeps
Nothing rewarded her save now and
then new blossom sprung up since
yesterdays moving. The close-cutting
annoyed her; ever and ever so many
fine four-leafed charms might have
been sacrificed. So she rose and
walked delicately, joying to feel the
turf yield underfoot, fifty yards farther
in to where century-old locusts flung
lacy shadows, adding d new charm to
the grass.
Knee1ing again, she parted the
growth wherever clover was thickest,
but found nothing until she had half
crawled twice her original distance to
space SO thinly set it was almost
ragged.
There moving had apparently been
held vain. With a low gurgle of de-
| light she bounced upon a four-leaf-
another, still another, all sprung from
| the same root. Success breeds avarioe
she did not stop until she had seven
OF the charm breeders safe in her
| fingers. Then as she made to rise she
caught a CLEAN a little way off. Half
a minute later she had retrieved from
under a half uprooted grass clump a
heavy signet ring, carved in low re-
lief A mans ring clearly-and so
| h0T ND CT L.
Janet all but forgot her clovers in the
rush of interest
She was still solitary, but a house,
wide, low and gray had become visible
thru the shrubbery-of course she
ought to go there with her find-but
As she stood turning the ring about
in her palm, trying vaiSAly to discover
if it were inscribed inside, some one
behind her asked CURLY: "Why are
very private property, if you know
anything"
Turning, she faced thinnish, elder
| ly man with a beak nose and sharp
| eyes set under penthouse brows. The
eyes looked her thru and thru, but she
was not frightened. Holding out the
muddled clovers, she said: 81 came
| for-what you see I have got. And
I have foUnd-something else" ex-
/ tending her left hand as she spoke
/ Will Tie ring IldlL on IOreIInSer,
| Finding it not always keeping"
the man said, deity taking away the
ring. you may keep your fodder"
contemptuously, ION condition that
you tell me exactly how you got the
other thing
Showing is easier" Janet said.
stepping toward the 1oosened SOD and
half raising it with the toe of her shoe.
SOL said the man, his eyes glued
to her face. "But-are you sure you
didn't put it there on purpose to be
found?"
IF you think things of that sort the
sooner I go the better Janet flung
back, her head high. "Give me the
ring, If you please. 1t may not belong
to you, any more than TO me. That
must be determined, if 1 am to feel
satisfied
81 know the owner. Does that sat
isfy you ?" the old man demanded with
a glimmering grin Janet shook her
head. "A suspicious person is a bad
trustee" she said. 'HThe ring. If YOU
please, shall not go without it,"
linen, Miss Spitfire, you are likely
to take root" her tormentor bantered
by this time quite half-human. He
held the ring tantalizingly betwixt
and round. Janet knew she could
snatch it and run away safely. But
she was not the sort for any such pro-
ceeding.
my name is Reed-Janet Reed. !"
she said clearly. 81 am staying with
the Grays for a short vacation. Be
fore it ends I hope you will decide to
do the right thing"
Going hey! After all the bluff"
the old man flung at her. actually
smiling. Il won't give you back the
ring-my word is sacred-but you
shall have tin exchange for some
thing I prefer"
''What?' Janet asked breathlessIy.
THE whole TRUTH" from her an
tagonist. eff you planted the ring
and how and why-the where 1 know
Janets eyes flashed, her fists
clinched hard, but her voice was low
and deadly as she answered: Men
have been killed for lesser insult. In
stead of killing you, I ask you to
explain
my theory" from her antagonist.
She nodded-speech was beyond her.
THE ring, being unique as well as
antique, is worth money" he began.
at vanished two months back
stolen, we thought, for a collector who
was wild to buy it. It had been care
lessly left beside an open library win
down in an open new case. Not a
fingerprint on the case-nor anywhere
else. We searched everywhere-fine-
tooth combed the place, especially the
grounds. Moved lawns every three
days and sifted ash piles, even flower
beds, but got no trace. If the thief
lost it and you found tit must have
been elsewhere. However that may
be, it looks to me as tho you made an
errand here that would enable you to
find it miraculously and restore it to
the owner. incidentally making his
acquaintance--"
''Why?" Janet interrupted, still
white and deadly.
You're wasting tragedy that be
longs to the MOVIES the old man
sneered: because the owner is-my
4 grandson. Anthony Pier-hes a decent
sort-and some day will inherit my
forty odd millions"
"If he is decent sort pity him. "
Janet shot back. ''All the millions in
the world cannot mike IN fnr-NnlI. -