Preston."
"He seems to take an interest in you. Perhaps he would trust you with
the money."
"I could offer him a mortgage on the stock," said Paul.
"If he has occasion to foreclose, he will be well provided with
neckties," said Mrs. Hoffman, smiling.
"None of which he could wear. I'll tell you what, mother, I should
like to pick up a pocketbook in the street, containing, say, twenty or
twenty-five dollars."
"That would be very convenient," said his mother; "but I think it will
hardly do to depend on such good luck happening to you. By the way," she
said, suddenly, "perhaps I can help you, after all. Don't you remember
that gold ring I picked up in Central Park two years ago?"
"The one you advertised?"
"Yes. I advertised, or, rather, your father did; but we never found an
owner for it."
"I remember it now, mother. Have you got the ring still?"
"I will get it."
Mrs. Hoffman went to her trunk, and, opening it, produced the ring
referred to. It was a gold ring with a single stone of considerable
size.
"I don't know how much it is worth," said Mrs. Hoffman; "but if the
ring is a diamond, as I think it is, it must be worth as much as twenty
dollars."
"Did you ever price it?"
"No, Paul; I have kept it, thinking that it would be something to fall
back upon if we should ever be hard pressed. As long as we were able to
get along without suffering, I thought I would keep it.
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