blighted love or sundered hearts, and these
tales are always interesting to the ladies who look over the
collection. Some have been worn by great men or great ladies, and some
have encircled the fingers of great villains or great criminals. You
should understand why I desire to know the history of every ring that
comes into my possession."

"Well," said Frank, quietly, "as there is not the slightest possibility
that you will ever possess this ring, you can have very little interest
in its history."

The stranger fell back a step, and then, with one hand eagerly
outstretched, he exclaimed:

"You will sell it for a good price--of course you will?"

"No."

"Why, its real value is insignificant!"

"It is valuable to me."

"No jeweler will give you more than three or four dollars for
it--possibly five."

"Well?"

"I will give you ten dollars for that ring."

"It is useless for you to offer me money for it, as I do not intend to
sell it."

Frank turned as if he would move away, but he felt a hand clutch his
shoulder with a grasp of iron, while the voice of the stranger almost
snarled:

"Don't be a fool, boy! I want that ring, and I mean to have it at some
price. I will give you twenty-five dollars for it."

"Take your hand off my shoulder, sir!"

"I'll give you thirty dollars."

"Take your hand off my shoulder, sir!"

"Forty dollars!"

"I have warned you twice to take your hand off my shoulder," came
coldly from the lips of the boy, on whose face there was now a
dangerous look. "I am going to warn you again, and if you do not obey,
it will be the worse for you. Take your hand off my shoulder!"

There was a single moment of hesitation, and then the stranger obeyed;
but the look on his face was not pleasant to see, and he hoarsely said:

"You are showing a great deal of authority for a stripling. These
military schools spoil boys like you by making them think they are men
before the fuzz grows on their faces."

There was no doubt in the lad's mind but he was dealing with a
desperate man, and Frank fully realized that he had thoroughly aroused
the stranger's anger. But Frank could not be bullied, and the man in
black was very repulsive to him, for some reason.

Once more the boy started to walk away; but the man was quickly at his
side, where he kept, again attempting to be persuasive, although it was
plain that he longed to throttle the lad.

"What is the use of being unreasonable! I am w