Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-10-03
Blessed Collar
Button
By cLARIsSA MACKIE

nANIEL MARSH was dressing to
- go out for the evening He
hadn't quite decided whether he would
go to theater or to one of the smart
hotels where he could dine in more or
less state, and then remain for dane.
ing. He knew very few girls In New
York, anyway, and It was not likely
that any of them would happen to be
at the hotel tonight, just because he
was feeling rather lonely In the big
ness of the city. Dan was making
good in very fine position downtown.
"Blazesl" he exclaimed wrathfully,
when collar button eluded him in
the traditional manner and landed
with a tlnkle near the steam radiator.
He spread newspaper down on the
floor, and kneellng down gingerly ex-
amined around and underneath the
warm heater. Dust-tluff-sOmeb burnt
understanding else Then he saw
the square opening around the steam
pipe, where It entered the room.
Something cleaned in the shallow
hole and Daniel tished for 1t with n
knife blade, He brought his find care
fully to the surface and took II TO the
bureau Then for the second time
that night, Dan Marsh yelled,
"Blazes !"
The collar button was not there, but
he had brought out of the hole beau.
tiful diamond ring together with a
lot of dust. 1t was woman's ring,
with two very fine stones In an eX
quislte setting.
"Now for the collar button" said
Dan remorselessly, and stepping back
felt something under his foot. II was
the collar button, squashed fiat
Fifteen minutes later, Daniel Marsh
left the house Immediately attired
and with his foot on the first round
of the ladder of adventure, In his
waistcoat pocket was the diamond
ring and the flattened collar button.
On the way downstairs he had inter
viewed Mrs Weed, his landlady.
az was wondering who had occupied
my room, before ! came" said Dan
II found a book there" he had the
book under his arm, a modern novel
"Oh, Miss Pearson must have left II
here-I don't believe she wanted IT,
She was always losing thlngs--lost her
diamond ring right in the room the
very day she left ! told her that !
didn't suspect Amanda, the maid, and
she was real nice about It."
81 suppose she went home," ven
tured Dan.
"No--it happened this way-well,
she couldn't afford to stay here-so
she took cheaper room around at
Miss Gilroy's on Amsterdam avenue. -
With this information Dan decided
not to go down to the hotel and dance,
he would follow the leading of the
blessed collar buttOn-he was begin
ming to call II that.
He dined at n neighborhoOd restau
rant, and then found his way to Miss
Gilroy's apartment. colored maid
answered the door.
Miss Pearson, yes, sir. Here's a
gentleman to see you, Miss Pearson,
SllC SiIu anu ltu ihlO Shlhil Nv
Ing room, where some one was play
ing softly on the piano. The playing
stopped, and the player arose and
faced Daniel Marsh.
81 am Miss Pearson" she said
cOldly.
Dan quaIled before the forbddlng
countenance of a middle-aged woman,
but he found courage to inquire wheth
er she had not boarded with Mrs
Weed.
"a don't owe her cent Of money"
said Miss Pearson stlfIly.
"Of course not" soothed Daniel
Marsh 81 merely came to inquire
about--yon lost a diamond ring, didn't
your
~ never talk to reporters" shifted
the singular Miss Pearson, besides.
found the ring In my trunk-lOst II
while packing"
"You couldn't tell me who occupied
that room before you dld?" ventured
Daniel once more.
n cOnld tell you that--it was Miss
Lincoln Elsie Lincoln, she's a steD
ographer in the Upanddown bank
she moved to another house and still
takes her meals AT Mrs. Weeds"
The UpanddowD bank-hls own
place of employment And Miss Lin,
coin was Mr. Bradlsh's stenographer-
the prettlest girl Daniel had ever seen
curling black hair soft blue eyes
and a creamy skin-a girl that seemed
like home girls somehow
Did Daniel Marsh's alarm clock 90
off an hour earlier the next mornlngf
It did Did he make himself more
than Immaculatei Yes, even So and
he hurried downstairs at 7:l5 to eat
breakfast at Mrs. Weeds now glorlled
table. Heretofore. he had preferred
to eat anywhere else than that dis
NAL board. lie waited halfhouf be
fore Elsie Lincoln came down In her
smart little hat and spring suit. Her
cheeks were rosy when he came and
sal beside her,
Daniel Marsh asked her about u
ring had she ever lost Onei Yes, In
deed she had-she described II min
utely, said her dearest daddy mad CIV
en- II to her. and she just didn't know
whether II was on the street or In the
house It had simply vanished
Mrs Weed gllmpsOd the paniOmlmo
from the pantry door "These young
folks" she groaned. strangers one dni
and engaged the nest he giving her
ring 80 soon e.
one day they tOld ber ana Elsie
displayed u very lnrgc solitaire din
mond sci ~ platinum As f0I the COZ
lar hutton tlini rriilA brought them
'oprit't 4" "''un" m, frrme nn'
pi, 80. " ",rinP