Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-03-17
Four-Leaved
Clovers
By MARTHA McWILLIAMS.

The turf was surely enticing, old,
sprlngy, soft as velvet, green as en-
erald and sprinkled sparsely with
fresh white clover heads. The blue
eyes looking at 1t across low railing
had twinkle behind their usefulness,
for Janet Reed, their owner, was say
ing, half aloud: "Now for four
leafed clover. know If 1 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 1t to search diligently
the begulllng 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 under foot, 30 yards farther
in to where century-old locdsts flung
down lacy shadows, adding new
charm to the grass.
Kneellng 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 1t was almost
ragged.
There moving had apparently been
held vain. With low gurgle Of de-
light she pounced upon q four-leaf-
another, still another, all sprung from
the same root. Success breeds avarice
she did not stop until she had seven
of the charm breeders safe In her
fingers. Then as she made to rise she
caught CLEAN little way off. Half
minute later she had retrieved from
under half uprooted grass clump a
heavy signet ring, carved in low re-
lief. A mans ring, clearly-and so
handsome 1t must have history.
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
through the shrubbery-of course she
ought to go there with her find
but explaining the find might be
awkward.
AS she stood turning the ring about
In her palm, trying vainly to discover
If 1t were inscribed inside, some one
behind her asked curtly "Why are
you here? You must know this is very
private property, If you know any
thlng2"
Turning, she faced thinnish, elder
ly man with beak nose and sharp
eyes set under penthouse brows. The
eyes looked her through and through,
but she was not frightened. Holding
out the muddled clovers, she said: 81
came for-what you see I have got.
And l have found-something else,"
extending her left hand as she spoke,
with the ring half on Its forefnger.
FINDING Is not always keeping" the
man said, deity taking away the ring.
"You may keep your fodder" con-
temptuously, "on condition that you
tell me exactly how you got the other
thing"
Showing is easier" Janet said,
stepping toward the loosened sod and
half raising II with the toe of her
shoe.
80" said the man, his eyes glued
to her face. "But-are you sure you
didn't put 1t there on purpose to be
found|
IF you think things Of that sort the
sooner ! 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, IL am to feel
satisfied"
IL know the owner. Does that sat
lsfy your the old man demanded
with glimmering grin. Janet shook
her head. "A suspicious person Is a
bad trustee" she said. THE ring, II
you please. / shall not go without It,"
"Then, Miss Spitfire, you are likely
to take root" her tOrmentor bantered,
by this time quite half-human. He
held the ring tantalizlngly between
thumb and finger, shaking 1t round
and round. Janet knew she could
snatch 1t and run away safely. But
she was not the sort for any such
proceeding.
MY name Is Reed-Janet Reed" |
she said clearly II am staying with |
the Grays for short vacation. Be
fore 1t ends / hope you VIII decide to |
do the right thing"
Going, hey After all the bluft" |