"You are the owner of this ring?" asked Mr. Tiffany.
"Yes, sir," said the adventurer. "It has been in our family for a long
time."
"But you wish to sell it now?"
"Yes; I have come near losing it several times, and prefer to dispose of
it. What is its value?"
"That requires some consideration. I will examine it closely."
Mr. Montgomery stood with his back to the entrance, waiting patiently,
while the jeweler appeared to be engaged in a close examination of the
ring. He congratulated himself that no questions had been asked which
it might have been difficult for him to answer. He made up his mind
that after due examination Mr. Tiffany would make an offer, which he
determined in advance to accept, whatever it might be, since he would
consider himself fortunate to dispose of it at even two-thirds of its
value.
Meanwhile the clerk quietly slipped out of the store, and at a short
distance encountered a policeman, upon whom he called for assistance.
At the same moment Paul and Mr. Preston came up. Our hero, on being
released from arrest, had sought Mr. Preston, and the latter obligingly
agreed to go with him to Tiffany's, and certify to his honesty, that, if
the ring should be brought there, it might be retained for him. Paul did
not recognize the clerk, but the latter at once remembered him.
"Are you not the boy that brought a diamond ring into our store this
morning?" he asked.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170