Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-12
The Wedding Ring

Elk nelghbors In the little Washing
ton square apartment house knew
her "a Miss Marie Robinson, though she
wore wedding ring. She had mediocre
ability as an artist, like several hundred
other bachelor girls" in the district.
10 select few among the secret
agents OF the United States, she was
known as Mile. Marie Fromart'. n spe-
cial agent of the French staff, with an
independent commission. Among this
number was Harvey Hunt, VINO during
the war devoted virtually all his time
TO government service
They all had noted the wedding ring
but none knew her story and her true
Identity. There may be one or two
ohclalH in France who do, but she re-
mains today one of that army of mar
tSrs whose heroism IL recorded only in
some dusty file of secret archives-per-
hapS not even there.
At times she made valuable contribu-
tions to the work of the little band of
which Harvey Hunt was a member. It
had been assigned the task Of uncovering
"A mysterious Bulgarian organization
which had been doing deadly work
through both propaganda and inccndiar-
ism.
On the other hand. the Americans
took tn" girl more or less under their
protection. establishing contact with her
at stated periods and occasionally aid
ing her in certain of her own enter
prises.
One day when she had failed TO telo
phone their headquarters according TO
schedule. Hunt and another agent named
bradford called at her apartment. The
door was unlatched.
The average individual would have
seen nothing in the room to excite sus-
piclon. But the two agents found much.
In the first place man had been there
and there were signs of struggle.
There were faint marks on the heavy
rug; slightly muddy footprints. The
mud was naturally enough explained by
the excavation which had dirtcd the
streets about square away. But the
positions of the imprints indicated TINT
struggle, probably a brief one, had
taken place. Apparently the girl had
tried to write note and had been
prevented. On her desk lay mem
orandum pad. On it was a single pen
stroke. Then the pen had been jammed
down so hard as to break it,
On the table was an electric lamp.
which was lit. though it was broad
| daylight. There was also telephone.
in front Of which lay Marie Fromart' $
M'uulhg ring. lhc ash tray, contained
tn" remains Of two brands of cigar
cites, that which she used and another.
Knocking at the bedroom door, and
getting no response, they entered The
bed had not been slept in. Slowly they
returned to the other room and gazed
around. mentally cropping for a starting
point.
That wedding ring" Hunt said
| thoughtfuIly. 1T oughtn't be there.
How does it strike yOu?'
Exactly what | was thinking my
self, - replied Bradford. "She always
wore it, Granting she had reason
| for not wearing it when she left, why
didn't she put it in that little case with
the rest Of her iewelry on her dressing
table? 1t is so precisely placed here.
| don't think it was just tossed down
careIessly, Hunt. What does it mean? :?
What is it trying to say"
Suddenly Harvey Hunts eyes
CLEANED. 1T doesn't cost anything to
try it," he muttcrrd. He strodc over
DO pOu knOr mhdt idea had suggested
itself to him, and whdt he did?
The dnsrer wW appear iOmOrrOIC.
Copyright, 1920. bv Public Ledger co..