hem not to blame me. They'd be well within their
rights were they to turn me off. What bothers me is that I should let
such a thing happen."

"You couldn't help it."

"I know--I know. It doesn't seem as if I could," the man answered,
shaking his head. "But I ought to have helped it--somehow."

That was Hollings' constant lament.

Round and round in a circle went he and Christopher, the lad constantly
trying to brighten and encourage, and the clerk as invariably bringing
up with this same doleful plaint. He was not to be comforted.

In the meantime Christopher, along with offering optimistic and repeated
assertions that the diamonds would surely be found, was gleaning a
surprising amount of information as he flitted about the store. He
learned not only of clocks but interesting bits concerning the value and
cutting of gems, the repairing of jewelry; the patterns of silverware,
strange facts about pearls.

Since he was free to browse wherever he chose, he found no monotony in
his environment. Furthermore he gradually sifted out the men who had
made something of their calling and attached himself to them because
they invariably proved to be the most interesting. Those who merely
sold what they had to sell and received the money he classed as bores
and thereafter avoided.

It was amazing how many more of the latter there were than the former.
The man possessing a broad knowledge of the wares he handled was rare.
Several clerks, for example, were behind the gem counters but the boy
soon discovered that when they wished an expert opinion they with one
accord turned to a stumpy little fellow with a bald head who appeared to
know every stone in the showcase by heart and knew just what country it
came from; whether it was well cut; if it was perfect or marred by
flaws; whether it was a tinge off the desired color, and numerous other
facts concerning it. Christopher had not dreamed there was so much to
know about precious stones, let alone all the wealth of romance
connected with them as Mr. Rhinehart had stored up.

He could tell you where were the largest diamonds, rubies, and emeralds
in the world; who owned them, and what they were worth; could give the
history of many of the finest pearls and celebrated necklaces made from
them; and at his tongue's end were stories regarding various gems as
thrilling and delightful as any Arabian Night's tales. He it was who
also had not only read about but had actually seen many of