had
promised to call, and Miss Morris was very strict in requiring him to
keep his engagements.

He had hardly entered the room when she discovered the loss of the
ring.

"What has become of the ring, Ferdinand?" she asked quickly.

"I thought you would miss it," he replied in some confusion.

"Where is it?" I asked Miss Harden peremptorily.

"Plague take the old cat," thought Morris. "I suppose I may as well
tell the truth."

"The fact is," he stammered, "it was stolen from me on an Erie train
to-day by a pickpocket."

"And you let him do it? What could you be thinking of, Ferdinand?"

"You have no idea how expert these fellows are, Josephine," said
Morris, who certainly ought to know.

"I think a man must be inexcusably careless or simple," returned the
spinster, "to allow a man to steal a ring from his finger. Do you
suspect anybody?"

"Yes; I sat beside a young man dressed up as a countryman. He was such
a good imitation, that I was positively taken in. He looked as if he
had been driving the plow all his life."

"And he stole the ring?"

"He must have done it. There was no one else near who had the chance."

"But how could he slip it off your finger without your knowing it?"

"The fact is, I fell into a doze, and when I was half asleep the ring
was taken. After he had got it he got out at some station, and I am
afraid I never shall see him again."

"I am not satisfied with your explanation, Ferdinand."

"You don't mean to say you doubt my word, Josephine?"

"I paid fifty dollars for that ring at a jeweler's on Sixth Avenue, and
I don't feel like losing so much money."

"But it is my loss, as you gave it to me."

"You forget that in case our engagement was broken, it was to be
returned."

"But you really don't think of breaking the engagement? You don't want
to drive me to despair?"

"Do you really love me so much, Ferdinand?" said the spinster, smiling
complacently.

"Can you doubt it? It makes me very unhappy to have you find fault with
me."

"But you must admit that you were very careless."

"I confess it, but the man looked so innocent."

"Do you think you shall ever meet him again?"

"I think so. He may be in another disguise."

"I will give you four weeks to do so, Ferdinand. If you don't succeed I
shall require you to buy another in its place."

"I will do my best," said Morris.

"I really thought you were sharper, Ferdinand. No pickpocket could rob
me."

"I may try i