ective, evidently recognizing her.

"Then this girl, who was nearest, may have it," said madam, sharply.

Nan was very much frightened; yet her sense of honesty came to her
rescue. She cried:

"Why should I be accused? I am innocent--I assure you, I would not do
such a thing. Why! I have more than twenty dollars in my purse right now.
I will show you. Why should I steal what I can buy?"

To Nan Sherwood this question seemed unanswerable. But the store
detective scarcely noticed. He looked at the lovely woman and asked:

"Madam is _sure_ this girl took the lavalliere?"

"Oh, mercy, no! I would not accuse anybody of such a thing," responded
the woman, in her low voice.

"But we know who you are, madam, we do not know this girl," said the
detective, doubtfully. "You are a customer whom the store is glad to
serve. This girl is quite unknown to us. I have no doubt but she is
guilty--as you say."

He shook the troubled Nan by the arm. The girl was trying to control
herself--to keep from breaking down and crying. Somehow, she felt that
_that_ would not help her in the least.

Without warning, a low voice spoke at Nan's side: "I know this girl. Of
what is she accused?"

Only a few beside the detective and Nan heard the words.

"Of stealing something from the counter," said the man.

"I should not be surprised." The girl who had spoken, still whispered to
the detective. "I know who she is. Her father is already in trouble on a
similar charge. This girl tried to take a hand-bag of mine once. I never
_did_ think she was any better than she should be."

It was Linda Riggs. She stood with flushed face, looking at Nan, and
although but few customers heard what she said, the latter felt as though
she should sink through the floor.

"Ah-ha!" exclaimed the pompous detective, holding Nan's arm with a
tighter grip. "You'll come with me to the superintendent's office to be
searched."

Nothing but the vindictive expression of Linda's face kept Nan Sherwood
from bursting into tears. She was both hurt and frightened by this
situation. And to have her father's name mentioned in such an
affair--perhaps printed in the papers! This thought terrified her as much
as the possibility that she, herself, might be put in jail.

Rather unsophisticated about police proceedings was Nan, and she saw jail
yawning for her just beyond the superintendent's office, whether the lost
lavalliere was found in her possession or not.

But instantl