er end of
the room. When Miss Lucy and Dr. Dudley came back to them,
however, both faces were so bright, Polly decided that she must
have been mistaken, and looked for the ring to appear. But it was
not so much as mentioned. The Doctor bade Elsie and the others
good-bye, and Miss Lucy accompanied him into the hall.

After a while the suspense became unbearable, and Polly started
for Miss Lucy's room. It was around the corner, on another
corridor, and as Polly reached the turn she heard voices.
Involuntarily she halted.

"It's the strangest thing," Miss Lucy was saying. "I remember
laying it on the dresser after showing it to you, and then I was
called away, and I can't recollect putting it in the box. I know
I locked the door when I went out--I don't understand it!"

"And you say nobody but Polly has been in the room since?"

The voice belonged to Miss Curtis, one of Miss Lucy's closest
friends.

"Unless it was entered with a skeleton key."

"Well, there's only one solution to the musterd, it seems to
me," Miss Curtis replied.

"I won't, I won't believe it!" Miss Lucy burst out. "Polly is
honesty itself. She would n't do such a thing any more than--
you or I would. If it were some children--but Polly!"

"You might question her anyway; ask her if she noticed the ring
when she came in after those napkins."

"I--can't! She'd see through it at once. Polly is bright. It
would break her heart to know we had such a thought. I believe it
got knocked off the dresser some way and will be found sooner or
later; but I wanted to give it to Elsie to-day. I'm all upset
about it!"

"Well, I can't help thinking--"

Polly, weak and wretched, shrank away, and went softly back
through the long corridor. At the door of the ward she met Dr.
Dudley.

"I was looking for you," he said. "Don't you want to take that
ride you missed this morning? I have a call to go down to
Linwood, and it is just cool enough now to be pleasant. Better
put on your coat; your dress is thin."

"Could n't you--take Elsie?" faltered Polly faintly.

"Elsie? Well, Thistledown, I feel hurt! Twice in one day! Have
you sworn off from auto riding?"

Usually this would have brought out a happy laugh, but now Polly
merely answered, "No," very soberly.

"I should n't dare to risk a ride for Elsie until her hip is
better," the Doctor resumed. "I'll try to taker her some day,
when she is a little further along. Now, run and get you hat.