Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover] The Riddle and the Ring; OR, WON BY NERVE BY GORDON MACLAREN [From _TOP-NOTCH MAGAZINE_] STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS 79-89 SEVENTH AVE., NEW YORK CITY Copyright, 1911 By STREET & SMITH The Riddle and the Ring All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. *CONTENTS* CHAPTER I. THE LITTLE MAN IN BLACK. II. AN AMAZING OFFER. III. PANIC. IV. THE EMERALD RING. V. THE POWER OF AVARICE. VI. AS IN A DREAM. VII. NEW GRACE AND DIGNITY. VIII. THE GATES OF CHANCE. IX. A WOMAN IN DISTRESS. X. SHIRLEY RIVES. XI. HIDE AND SEEK. XII. PUZZLED. XIII. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE. XIV. FOLLOWED. XV. THE GIRL WHO VANISHED. XVI. ANOTHER WOMAN. XVII. BEYOND BELIEF. XVIII. CHAOS. XIX. PROTECTIVE MEASURES. XX. THE MAN WHO LOST. XXI. IN THE NEXT COMPARTMENT. XXII. THE TOUCH Of COLD STEEL. XXIII. BY FORCE OF ARMS. XXIV. THE EMPTY HOUSE. XXV. THE FACE IN THE CANDLELIGHT. XXVI. THE HAND OF FATE. XXVII. THE LETTER. XXVIII. THE HOUSE ON THE AVENUE. XXIX. LAWRENCE PLEADS. XXX. THE TANGLED WEB. XXXI. DESPAIR. XXXII. AN EXTRAORDINARY INTERVIEW. XXXIII. GONE! XXXIV. THE PUZZLE GROWS. XXXV. THE ASTONISHING MRS. WILMERDING. XXXVI. TAKING UP THE TRAIL. XXXVII. TWO SHEETS OF PAPER. XXXVIII. IN CAPITALS OF RED. XXXIX. HAMERSLEY TAKES A HAND. XL. THE OPEN DOOR. XLI. AT CROSS-PURPOSES. XLII. THE MAN IN THE MIRROR. XLIII. HIS SECOND HALF. XLIV. THE RIDDLE SOLVED. XLV. THE GIFT OF THE RING. *THE RIDDLE AND THE RING.* *CHAPTER I.* *THE LITTLE MAN IN BLACK.* It was the second time the man had passed the bench, and, as their eyes met for an instant before the stranger swiftly averted his head and walked on, Barry Lawrence frowned with quick suspicion. Was it possible that the intolerable persecution had begun again? For more than three weeks he had been left in peace, and it seemed the irony of fate that now, at a moment when he was tasting the bitter dregs of life, the harassing should begin again. The next moment he shrugged his shoulders resignedly. After all, what did it matter? They could get nothing from him now—he had nothing to give. If they had indeed returned, they must soon discover that.