The Fraternity Ring

After leaving the roadster at a garage downtown, Nancy was walking slowly toward home when she heard her name called. Turning, she saw Bess and George hurrying to catch np with her.

" You must be deaf, Nancy, " George cried as they swung into step with her. " We shouted three times."

" Sorry, " Nancy laughed. " My mind was wool-gathering."

" Thinking about that handsome new beau of yours, I'll venture, " Bess teased.

Nancy shook her head but an animated expression came over her face. Her eyes danced mischievously as she told her bit of news.

" He called me on the telephone this morning before I was up."

" My word! " George exclaimed enviously. " You did make a hit! Wish I had your technique! "

" Silly! He 'phoned me on a matter of business. This morning he found a ring at the Raybolt grounds and he thought it might belong to me."

" That was just an excuse, " Bess declared. " Of course, you didn't lose one."

" No, but I thought you or George might claim it."

Both girls shook their heads and Nancy went on:

" Then I feel convinced that the ring was lost by the man I saw running away from the fire. Ned picked it up near the hedge. He says it has an inscription and seems to be a fraternity ring. I'm eager to see it."

" And Ned, too, " George added wickedly.

A little farther on, the cousins said goodbye and went their separate ways. Luncheon was ready when Nancy reached home. She ate alone, for her father had been detained at the office on an important case.

Nancy spent the greater part of the afternoon poring over the diary. She rearranged the scattered pages and puzzled over the missing ones. Only one new discovery did she make. At the bottom of a page written in Swedish she found a tiny ink drawing. Nancy decided that it was probably a diagram for some part of an electrical machine, but the drawing was so sketchy she could not determine the type.

" I’ll make no progress until I find someone who can translate the book for me, " she thought.

Nancy knew a number of persons who were familiar with the Swedish language, but she hesitated to take the diary to them lest they ask annoying questions.

" I want someone who will make the translation and think no more about it! " Nancy told herself. " If I have to tell where I found the diary and everything about it, I'll defeat my own purpose."

When Carson Drew came home for six o'clock dinner she mentioned that her new friend, Ned Nickerson, was calling that evening.

" Oh, I see, " her father drawled. " You want me to find it convenient to be away. Is that it? "

" Of course not. I particularly want you to meet him. He's bringing a ring that may interest you."

" Not a diamond, I hope! "

" Dad! " Nancy cried in exasperation. " You're as bad as Bess and George! Ned—Mr. Nickerson is coming here on business and I want you to treat him accordingly."

" Oh, yes indeed, " the lawyer twinkled. " I’ll promise to be very proper and not embarrass you by asking the young man his intentions."

Even though the occasion was to be one of " business, " Nancy negotiated with Hannah to serve ice cream and cake later in the evening.

" Please wear a pretty apron and cap, " she wheedled.

The housekeeper muttered something about " too much fuss and folderol" but Nancy knew that everything would be as she wished.

There was barely time for Nancy to change into a flowered crepe gown and high-heeled slippers before the doorbell rang. She flew to admit Ned.

The first greeting over, they were both a trifle breathless and embarrassed. Nancy was glad that her father appeared just then, for the introduction relieved an awkward situation.

She could tell that her father liked Ned by the hearty way in which he shook hands. Many persons were awed in the presence of Carson Drew, but Nancy was delighted to discover that Ned felt at ease with him.

Seated in the comfortable living room, the lawyer skillfully directed the conversation. He had been rather curious concerning Nancy's new acquaintance for he sensed that she was more interested in him than in the other youths who occasionally escorted her to picture shows and dances. A few minutes satisfied him that Ned Nickerson was the right sort of companion for his daughter.

" Tell us about the ring, " Nancy urged. " Did you bring it with you? "

For answer, Ned removed a tiny object from his vest pocket and dropped it into Nancy's lap.

The ring was of plain yellow gold, unadorned save for an emblem and inscription in blue. Nancy studied it for a moment and then handed it over to her father.

" It must be a fraternity ring, " he declared.

" The inscription inside is in Swedish, isn't it, Dad? "

" I think so."

The discussion was interrupted at that moment by the ringing of the telephone. Carson Drew arose to answer it and after hanging up the receiver, turned regretfully toward his guest.

" I've been called down to the office. I must excuse myself, I'm afraid, but I'll try to get back before you leave."

After Carson Drew had departed Ned told Nancy the details of his morning's visit to the Raybolt grounds. He had arrived there before breakfast so as to view the wreckage before the arrival of curious townsfolk. The house had been completely wrecked. Nothing had been saved.

" You didn't find a clue to the cause of the fire, did you? " Nancy inquired hopefully.

" No, the firemen said it might have been caused by a defective wire, but I rather doubt that."

" So do I. The house seemed to blow up. The flames were everywhere in an instant."

" It's a queer case, " Ned said thoughtfully. " Old Foxy Felix will get quite a jolt when he hears about the loss."

" Doesn't he know about it yet? " Nancy inquired in surprise.

" Not according to latest reports. The Raybolts are away on a vacation. The neighbors tried to get in touch with them at the summer hotel where they usually stop, but they couldn't be reached."

" I wonder how much they will lose? "

" If the place wasn't insured, I'd say at least fifty thousand, not counting the furniture."

" That's a lot of money, Ned."

" Yes, but everyone around Mapleton seems to think the old man had it coming to him. You hear all sorts of stories about the way he has squeezed money out of people."

" I'm curious to know how the Raybolts will take their loss."

" In the worst spirit, I imagine, " Ned grinned. " If I find out, I'll let you know."

" I wish you would."

Nancy did not like to explain to Ned why she was so keenly interested in the details of the fire, for she thought he might think her foolish to consider trying to solve a mystery which was not even recognized as being one by the country people. It would be just as well not to mention the diary until she had secured a translation. She would work alone on the clue and then, when she really had something worth while to disclose, tell what she had accomplished.

Refreshments were served by Hannah, who did not forget the pretty apron and cap, and then Ned reluctantly arose to depart.

" I don't know what to do with this ring, " he said as he thoughtfully fingered it. " Why don't you keep it? "

" I will if you want me to, " Nancy said quickly. " Perhaps I can find someone who can read the inscription."

" That's what I thought. Let me know if you do." Ned grinned. " On second thought, perhaps I'd better drop over now and then to inquire."

Nancy's smile gave consent.

Ned was still lingering on the porch steps when Carson Drew came up the walk. Nancy repeated what she had been told about the Raybolts being unaware of their loss.

" So? " the lawyer returned in surprise. " It shouldn't be so hard to locate Raybolt. Perhaps I'd better take a hand."

" Why don't you, Dad? He may be able to furnish a clue as to what caused the fire."

" I believe I will look up Raybolt, " the lawyer said. " He may have had enemies who deliberately set fire to the house."

" That's what I thought! " Nancy cried, delighted that her father had become interested in the case.

A few minutes later Ned said good-night, sprang into his car, and drove away.

" How do you like him? " Nancy asked hopefully as they walked into the house together.

" Nice chap, '' the lawyer commented. '' I suppose I'll be seeing a lot of him from now on."

" Perhaps, " Nancy laughed, and ran off to her room.

She did not retire immediately, but in the privacy of her boudoir examined the ring more carefully. She placed it in the bureau drawer with the diary.

" I have two clues now instead of one, " she assured herself jubilantly. " The thing to do is to find someone who can translate Swedish."

As she undressed, Nancy called to mind various acquaintances of hers. She knew a college professor who read Swedish fluently, but he was the inquisitive type of person.

" I want to keep the diary a secret, " she told herself. " Everyone I know would ask all sorts of questions about it."

Unexpectedly Nancy laughed. The solution to her problem had arrived in a sudden flash.

" The corner baker! Why didn't I think of him before? He can read Swedish like a native, and he's so good-natured and placid that he never in the world would think of questioning me! I'll see him the first thing in the morning."

With that happy thought Nancy switched off the light and tumbled into bed.