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〃Who did it？〃
〃Mr。 Felix Montgomery； or that's what he called himself。 I came
here by appointment to meet him。〃
〃What did he do that for？〃
〃He has carried off a diamond ring which I came up here to sell
him。〃
〃A very improbable story；〃 said Mr。 Piper； suspiciously。 〃What
should such a boy have to do with a diamond ring？〃
Nothing is easier than to impart suspicion。 Men are prone to
believe evil of each other； and Paul was destined to realize
this。 The hotel servants； ignorant and suspicious； caught the
suggestion。
〃It's likely he's a' thafe；〃 said Bridget； from a safe distance。
〃If I were；〃 said Paul； coolly； 〃I shouldn't be apt to call your
attention by such a noise。 I can prove to you that I am telling
the truth。 I stopped at the office； and the bookkeeper sent a
servant to show me up here。〃
〃If this is true；〃 said Mr。 Piper； 〃why； when you found yourself
locked in； didn't you ring the bell； instead of making such a
confounded racket？ My nerves won't get over it for a week。〃
〃I didn't think of the bell；〃 said Paul； 〃I am not much used to
hotels。〃
〃What will we do with him？〃 asked James； looking to Mr。 Piper
for counsel。
〃You'd better take him downstairs； and see if his story is
correct；〃 said the nervous gentleman； with returning good sense。
〃I'll do it；〃 said James； to whom the very obvious suggestion
seemed marked by extraordinary wisdom； and he grasped Paul
roughly by the arm。
〃You needn't hold me；〃 said our hero； shaking off the grasp。 〃I
haven't any intention of running away。 I want to find out； if I
can； what has become of the man that swindled me。〃
James looked doubtfully at Mr。 Piper。
〃I don't think he means to run away；〃 said that gentleman。 〃I
begin to think his story is correct。 And hark you； my young
friend； if you ever get locked up in a hotel room again； just see
if there is a bell before you make such a confounded racket。〃
〃Yes； sir； I will；〃 said Paul； half…smiling； 〃but I'll take care
not to get locked up again。 It won't be easy for anybody to play
that trick on me again。〃
The party filed downstairs to the office and Paul told his story
to the bookkeeper。
〃Have you seen Mr。 Montgomery go out？〃 asked our hero。
〃Yes； he went out half an hour ago； or perhaps more。 He left his
key at the desk； but said nothing。 He seemed to be in a hurry。〃
〃You didn't notice in what direction he went？〃
〃No。〃
Of course no attempt was made to detain Paul。 There could be no
case against him。 He went out of the hotel； and looked up and
down Broadway in a state of indecision。 He did not mean to sit
down passively and submit to the swindle。 But he had no idea in
what direction to search for Mr。 Felix Montgomery。
CHAPTER XIX
PAUL DELIBERATES
Paul stood in the street irresolute。 He looked hopelessly up and
down Broadway； but of course the jeweler from Syracuse was not to
be seen。 Seeking for him in a city containing hundreds of
streets and millions of inhabitants was about as discouraging as
hunting for a needle in a haystack。 But difficult as it was；
Paul was by no means ready to give up the search。 Indeed；
besides the regret he felt at the loss； he was mortified at
having been so easily outwitted。
〃He's taken me in just as if I was a country boy；〃 thought Paul。
〃I dare say he's laughing at me now。 I'd like to get even with
him。〃
Finally he decided to go to Tiffany's； and ask them to detain any
one who might bring in the ring and offer it for sale。 He at
once acted upon this thought； and； hailing a Broadway stage； for
no time was to be lost； soon reached his destination。 Entering
the store； he walked up to the counter and addressed the clerk to
whom he had before shown the ring。
〃Do you remember my offering you a diamond ring for sale this
morning？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； I remember it very well。 Have you got it with you？〃
〃No； it has been stolen from me。〃
〃Indeed！ How was that？〃 asked the clerk； with interest。
〃I met in the cars a well…dressed man； who called himself a
jeweler from Syracuse。 He examined the ring； and offered me more
than Mr。 Tiffany； but asked me to bring it to him at Lovejoy's
Hotel。 When I got there； he drugged me with chloroform； and when
I recovered he was gone。〃
〃You have been unlucky。 There are plenty of such swindlers
about。 You should have been careful about displaying the ring
before strangers。〃
〃I was showing it to a friend。〃
〃Have you notified the police？〃
〃Not yet。 I came here to let you know； because I thought the
thief might bring it in here to sell。〃
〃Very likely。 Give me a description of him。〃
Paul described Mr。 Felix Montgomery to the best of his ability。
〃I think I should know him from your description。 I will speak
to Mr。 Tiffany； and he will no doubt give orders to detain any
person who may offer the ring for sale。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃If you will give me your address； we will notify you in case the
ring is brought in。〃
Paul left his address； and went out of the store； feeling that he
had taken one step toward the recovery of his treasure。 He next
visited the police headquarters； and left a detailed description
of the man who had relieved him of the ring and of the
circumstances attending the robbery。 Then he went home。
His mother looked up as he entered。
〃Well； Paul？〃 she said； inquiringly。
〃I've got bad news； mother；〃 he said。
〃What is it？ Tell me quick！〃 she said； nervously。
〃The ring has been stolen from me。〃
〃How did it happen； Paul？〃
〃First； I must tell you how much the ring is worth。 I went up to
Tiffany's； and showed the ring to Mr。 Tiffany himself。 He told
me that he would give me two hundred and fifty dollars for it； if
I would satisfy him that I had a right to sell it。〃
〃Two hundred and fifty dollars！〃 repeated Mrs。 Hoffman； in
amazement。
〃Yes； the diamond is very large and pure。〃
〃Two hundred and fifty dollars would be a great help to us。〃
〃Yes； mother； that is what makes me feel so bad about being
swindled out of it。〃
〃Tell me how it happened。 Is there no chance of recovering it？〃
〃A little。 I shall do what I can。 I have already notified the
police； and Mr。 Tiffany。〃
〃You have not told me yet how you lost it。〃
When Paul had told the story； his mother asked； 〃Did you mention
it in the cars that you had offered it at Tiffany's？〃
〃Yes； and I mentioned his offer。〃
〃Perhaps the thief would be cautious about going there； for that
very reason。 He might think the ring would be recognized。〃
〃He would go to a large place； thinking that so valuable a ring
would be more readily purchased there。〃
〃He might go to Ball & Black's。〃
〃That is true。〃
〃It would be well to give notice there also。〃
〃I will go up there at once。 I