The Washington times., 1921-02-06
2+Story of the Sick Patients
Loue Solitaire.


TN the Sharpe exploit Mrs. Ruickholdt's
Imagination had pictured herself the
- victim of criminals, and she herself was
insistent, incisive, indignant. Her dress
was uptodate, fashionable. 1t was an en-
tirely different, Mrs. Ruickholdt who stung
the wholesale jewel1y firm of s. J. Hunter,
Maiden Tame, NeW York.. for, an, expensive
diamond ring.
They liked her down there and they useo
10 call her the Twilight Lady"-all jewell
eTs are poets--because she always stole in
or telephoned about that time. She was
always dressed in gray or in dun colors
like taupe or light brown and the sand
shades the smart women are wearing this
season. She did not startle the gaze and
she moved slowly and spoke gently. Her
voice was soft and low.
zone of the pleasantest voices l ever
heard" said one of Mr.. Hunters clerks.
They have revised their opinion about that.
though.
1t was one twilight when she first slipped
in. She was appealingly apologetic, almost
timid
81 don't want to buy" she told him. 81
want to sell a ring for a friend who is in,
oh, such straits. She is Mrs. Rex Guiron,
patient Of my husbands. She Is in hos
pital In New Haven and she needs ready
mOu6y 81. bO yOu 6NtT puTCudSt
The diamond merchant admitted that he
did. She drew out flashing solitaire.
tits fair ring" said the jeweler, and
named price. eff can sell 1t at higher
figure than that will give your friend the
extra profit"
She thanked him with her eyes and with
her voice
ut is so wonderful to find such gener-
osity In business office" she said. But.
.~l, n,,t. h,,t lyx,s.x hos
sorrowful story!"
1t was quite closing time now: still they
would have listened.
II will not tell you it-now," she whis-
pered. And foated out the door.
Strange how that woman calls forth
sympathy" exclaimed the merchant as he
gazed after her.
They both agreed that 1t was her eyes
that so aroused their chivalry and pity.
They were so sad; asking eyes; begging
eyes. Yes. that was 1t.
Two weeks went by and then Mrs. Ruick-
holdt called up on the telephone. With
great friendliness Mr.. Hunter answered the
gentle voice, asking about her health and
that of her poor friend, Mrs. Rex Guiron.
Il am very well, Mr.. Hunter. But my
poor friend is still in need of money. She
asked me to inquire whether you had sold
the ring and whether you had received
mOTt yOu udu tApcOltus
Mr.. Hunter had sold the ring And he
could allow her ten dollars more than the
price he had named. It was wonderful of
Mr.. Hunter. said Mrs Rulckholdt. And
would he send the check to Mrs. Guiron
and address II in her care at New Haven.
Mr.. Hunter did just that. The first of the
month, looking over his cancelled checks,
he noticed that this one had been endorsed
Mrs. Rex Guiron," and in different hand
writing below MRS. c. Arthur Ruickholdt."
This was so regular and commonplace that
II aroused no suspicion. Mr.. Hunter did
not associate the two names with Dickens's
immortal "Ssiry Camp" and her Mrs. Har-
ris." There was no reason why he should.
He had almost forgotten the incident
when, two months later. in came the "Twi-
light Lady" again, sad Of eyes but gentle
of mien and smiling.
Mrs. Rex Guiron is much better" re-
piled Mrs. Ruickholdt. "ln fact she has
almost recovered. And she is no longer
poor. But, oh, Mr. Hubter she must get
her ring back II she is quite to recover.
You see-she is q widow. She loved her