"It is lucky for you, sir," said Dick hotly, "that my friend stopped
me. Is it a part of your business to insult people without
provocation?"

"Sir," said the other, "I come in contact with very many persons
of a suspicious character and-----"

"Yes, I should suppose you might," said Dick significantly. "We
do not, and it is not at all necessary that you should consider
this boy one of that sort. Let him talk to the doctor, Jack."

The boys were walking away when the man interrupted them hastily
with:

"I am in search of a watch which has been stolen. It is a lady's
watch, heavy gold case, about an inch and a quarter diameter,
hunting case, set with five or six small diamonds, made in
Switzerland, Jurgensen movement, worth from three hundred to
five hundred dollars. There are no initials nor monograms, but
the number is---"

"That describes the watch the doctor has," said Jack. "We will
see what the number is, and if it is the same as what you mention
there is no doubt that this is the watch. We will go and see him."

"Where did you find this watch?" asked the other, as he hurried
after the two boys.

"Excuse me, but that has nothing to do with it," said Jack. "I
found a watch, and your description tallies with it all but the
number, which I do not know. That we will ascertain."

The boys led the way to the cottage, which the doctor occupied,
and went to his study where they found him.

"Write the number of the watch you are in search of on a piece
of paper, and let the doctor see the number of the watch," said
Jack to the detective, after telling the doctor why they had come.
Then we will see if this is the one or not.

The man wrote a number on a card, and handed it to the doctor,
who took the watch from a pigeon hole in his desk and opened it.

"The number is identical," he said, and handed the watch and the
card with the number on it to Jack that he might compare them.

"Yes, so they are," the boy said, showing them to Dick. "This
is certainly the watch you are in search of."

"May I ask you where and how you found it?" asked the detective,
still with the accusing air that both Dick and Jack himself resented.

"I found it in my pocket after coming from the fire at Mr. Van
der Donk's house last night or this morning," he replied.

"In your pocket? Was not that a singular place to find it? How
did it get in your pocket?"

"You know as much about that as I do," said the boy quietly.