Mrs. Keller had been sitting on the sand near the children. Her husband arose and she stretched out her hands to him to have him help pull her to her feet. As she did so she uttered a startled cry.
“What’s the matter?” asked Mr. Keller, in surprise.
“My wedding ring!” she gasped. “It’s gone! It isn’t on my finger! It must have slipped off! My wedding ring is lost in the sand!”
She was almost ready to cry, and Janet, knowing how much her mother thought of her wedding band of gold, knew how Mrs. Keller must feel.
“Well, if it’s in the sand it ought to be easy to find,” said Mr. Keller. “Don’t walk around too much. Just stand still and look for it. When did you miss it?”
“Just a moment ago,” she answered. “I was letting the sand run through my fingers, and the ring must have slipped off. Oh, if I can’t find it I don’t know what I shall do! I shall be heart-broken!”
The Curlytops could see tears in her eyes.
CHAPTER VIII
ANOTHER LOSS
Mr. Keller stood still near the spot where he had pulled his wife to her feet. With sharp eyes he looked all about the sand.
“What you all doin’?” asked Trouble, who had wandered off down the beach and who now came running back. “Is you all makin’ a hole for a nellifunt to get a drink?”