ill come with witnesses whose testimony will outweigh that
of this gentleman, who I suspect never was in Hayfield Centre in his
life. I will trouble you for the ring."

"I hope you don't intend to give it to him," said the gentleman. "The
presumption is that, as he is masquerading, he has not come by it
honestly."

"I shall not deign to notice your insinuations," said Mr. Montgomery,
who concealed beneath a consequential tone his real uneasiness. "The
ring, if you please."

"Don't give it to him."

As the clerk seemed disinclined to surrender the ring, Mr. Montgomery
said: "Young man, you will find it to be a serious matter to withhold my
property."

"Perhaps I had better give it to him," said the clerk, imposed upon by
the adventurer's manner.

"Require him to prove property. If it is really his, he can readily do
this."

"My dear," said the Rev. Mr. Barnes, "we will leave the store."

"What, and leave the ring?"

"For the present. I will invoke the aid of the police to save me from
being robbed in this extraordinary manner."

He walked to the street door, accompanied by his wife. He was deeply
disappointed at the failure of the sale, and would gladly have wreaked
vengeance upon the stranger who had prevented it. But he saw that
his safety required an immediate retreat. In addition to his own
disappointment, he had to bear his wife's censure.

"If you had the spirit of a man, Mr. Montgomery," she commenced, "you
wouldn't have given up that ring so easily. He had no business to keep
it."

"I would have called in a policeman if I dared, but you know I am not on
the best of terms with these gentlemen."

"Are we to lose the ring, then?"

"I am afraid so, unless I can make them believe in the store that I am
really what I pretend to be."

"Can't you do it?"

"Not very easily, unless stay, I have an idea. Do you see that young
man?"

He directed his wife's attention to a young man, evidently fresh from
the country, who was approaching, staring open-eyed at the unwonted
sights of the city. He was dressed in a blue coat with brass buttons,
while his pantaloons, of a check pattern, terminated rather higher up
than was in accordance with the fashion.

"Yes, I see him," said Mrs. Montgomery. "What of him?"

"I am going to recover the ring through his help."

"I don't see how."

"You will see."

"How do you do?" said the adventurer, cordially, advancing to the young
man, and seizing his hand.

"Pr