Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/52

 wore on the third finger of her left hand a diamond ring that daily flashed its heartless message to Chesterfield's reluctant eyes. He knew the terrible significance of this, for only the previous week "The Searchlight's" authority on etiquette had devoted much space to the subject of engagements and the question of the ring. With the confirmation of his worst fears, Chesterfield pulled himself together like a man, resumed his wonted amiability, and proceeded to make the best of a life hopelessly wrecked at twelve. Even the news that Miss Neville had resigned her position on "The Searchlight" and was to be married in two months hardly added to the gloom and bitterness of existence.

He was not so distraught but that he took a warm interest in a conversation he overheard one afternoon between the Sunday editor and the editor of the humorous supplement. Chesterfield was in the office of the latter, looking over the files for the benefit of an indignant contributor who was certain his article had been printed and not paid for. The first words the boy overheard made him prick up his ears.