of rings and
pounced upon one of them.

"My soul!" he faltered weakly. "You're right. It's a fake. There's no
mark on it. Ring, Grant! Ring that bell for the detective. The
'phone--quick--and call headquarters! We'll put somebody on their track
as fast as ever we can." Then, turning to Christopher, he shouted
accusingly, "Why in the deuce didn't you sing out before they got away?
And where were you, anyhow, that you saw the affair?"

While the other clerks at the counter gathered round Christopher, he
related exactly what he had witnessed.

"You'd know the chaps again?"

"I'd know the big one--I'm sure I should, because of the scar on his
cheek."

"Scar? I didn't notice it," murmured the unhappy salesman. "I was too
busy listening to their blarney, I guess. They meant I should be,
too--idiot that I was. I can't see why you didn't sing out, kid." The
clerk, thoroughly demoralized, had apparently entirely forgotten that
Christopher was the son of the senior partner.

"I was too surprised! It was all so quick, you see. It almost seemed as
if it hadn't happened," repeated the boy wretchedly.

"Why blame the boy, Hollings, when you yourself hadn't the wit to be on
your guard?" put in the man called Grant.

"That's so! That's so!" moaned the unfortunate fellow.

"At least he has lost little time. He has given us pretty prompt warning
and enabled us to get our nets out much sooner than we should have
otherwise. But for him, you might not have discovered anything was wrong
before night."

"I know. Yes, he's done a big service, certainly. But it would have been
a bigger had he stopped the thieves before they made their get-away."

"There is no use to go back to that. Neither you nor I would, perhaps,
have done better. Had he shouted from the balcony and accused two
innocent customers of stealing, we should have been a sight worse off.
The lad was just being prudent."

"Yes! Yes, he did the wise thing, I guess, since he wasn't sure."

"We cannot insult patrons without proof."

"No."

"Besides, if Master Christopher took good heed of the rascals and can
help to identify them, he will do still further service."

"To be sure--yes--yes--of course," the distraught clerk answered. "But
it is all very unfortunate. To think of their putting it over on me--me,
who have been here twenty years and never lost an article. It's
terrible!"

"Cheer up, Hollings."

"I shall lose my place," wailed Hollings. "Lose it as sure