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recovered from his stupor； and realized that his ring was gone。〃
〃What sort of boy was he； Tony？〃
〃Better not call me by that name； my dear。 It might be heard；
you know； and might not be considered in character。 As to your
question； he was by no means a stupid boy。 Rather sharpish； I
should say。〃
〃Then how came he to let you take him in？〃
〃As to that； I claim to be rather sharp myself； and quite a match
even for a smart boy。 I haven't knocked about the world
forty…four years for nothing。〃
They were now in Broadway。 Turning the corner of Amity street；
they walked a short distance downtown； and paused before the
handsome jewelry store of Ball & Black。
〃I think we had better go in here；〃 said Felix Montgomery（I
hesitate a little by which of his numerous names to call him）。
〃Why not go to Tiffany's？〃
〃I gather from what the boy told me that the ring has already
been offered there。 It would be very likely to be recognized and
that would be awkward； you know。〃
〃Are you sure the ring has not been offered here？ asked his
wife。
〃Quite sure。 The boy would have mentioned it； had such been the
case。〃
〃Very well。 Let us go in then。〃
The Rev。 Mr。 Barnes and his wife； of Hayfield Centre； entered
the elegant store； and ten minutes later Paul Hoffman entered
also； and took his station at the counters wholly unconscious of
the near proximity of the man who had so artfully swindled him。
CHAPTER XXI
PAUL IS CHECKMATED
On entering the large jewelry store Mr。 Montgomery and his wife
walked to the rear of the store； and advanced to the counter；
behind which stood a clerk unengaged。
〃What shall I show you？〃 he inquired
〃I didn't come to purchase；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； with suavity；
〃but to sell。 I suppose you purchase jewelry at times？〃
〃Sometimes；〃 said the clerk。 〃Let me see what you have。〃
〃First；〃 said the adventurer； 〃let me introduce myself。 I am the
Rev。 Mr。 Barnes； of Hayfield Centre； Connecticut。 You perhaps
know the place？〃
〃I don't think I remember it；〃 said the clerk； respectfully。
〃It is a small place；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； modestly； 〃but my
tastes are plain and unobtrusive； and I do not aspire to a more
conspicuous post。 However； that is not to the purpose。 A lady
parishioner； desiring to donate a portion of her wealth to the
poor； has placed in my hand a diamond ring； the proceeds to be
devoted to charitable objects。 I desire to sell it； and； knowing
the high reputation of your firm feel safe in offering it to you。
I know very little of the value of such things； since they are
not in my line； but I am sure of fair treatment at your hands。〃
〃You may depend upon that；〃 said the clerk； favorably impressed
with the appearance and manners of his customer。 〃Allow me to
see the ring。〃
The brilliant was handed over the counter。
〃It is quite valuable；〃 said he； scrutinizing it closely。
〃So I supposed； as the lady is possessed of wealth。 You may rely
upon its being genuine。〃
〃I am not authorized to purchase； said the clerk； 〃but I will
show it to one of the firm。〃
Just at that moment； Mr。 Montgomery； chancing to look toward the
door； was startled by seeing the entrance of Paul Hoffman。 He
saw that it would be dangerous to carry the negotiation any
farther and he quickly gave a secret signal to his wife。
The hint was instantly understood and acted upon。
Mrs。 Montgomery uttered a slight cry； and clung to her husband's
arm。
〃My dear；〃 she said； 〃I feel one of my attacks coming on。 Take
me out quickly。
〃My wife is suddenly taken sick；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； hurriedly。
〃She is subject to fits。 If you will give me the ring； I will
return to…morrow and negotiate for its sale。〃
〃I am very sorry；〃 said the clerk； with sympathy； handing back
the ring。 〃Can I get anything for the lady？〃
〃No； thank you。 The best thing to do is to get her into the open
air。 Thank you for your kindness。〃
〃Let me help you；〃 said the clerk； and coming from behind the
counter he took one arm of Mrs。 Montgomery； who； leaning heavily
on her husband and the clerk； walked； or rather was carried； to
the street door。
Of course； the attention of all within the store was drawn to the
party。
〃What was the matter？〃 inquired a fellow…clerk； as the salesman
returned。
〃It was a clergyman from Connecticut； who wished to sell a
diamond ring； given to him for charitable purposes。 His wife was
taken suddenly sick。 He will bring it back to…morrow。〃
〃Was the ring a valuable one？〃
〃It must be worth in the neighborhood of three hundred dollars。〃
Paul listened to this explanation； and a sudden light flashed
upon him； as he heard the estimated value of the ring。 There had
been something familiar in the appearance of the adventurer；
though； on account of his successful disguise and his being
accompanied by a lady； he had not before felt any suspicion as to
his identity with the man who had swindled him。 Now he felt
convinced that it was Mr。 Felix Montgomery； and that it was his
own appearance which had led to the sudden sickness and the
precipitate departure。
〃That trick won't work； Mr。 Montgomery；〃 he said to himself。
〃I've got on your track sooner than I anticipated； and I mean to
follow you up。〃
Reaching the sidewalk； he caught sight of Mr。 and Mrs。 Montgomery
just turning the corner of a side street。 The pair supposed they
were safe； not thinking that our hero had recognized them； and
the lady no longer exhibited illness； and was walking briskly at
her husband's side。 Paul hurried up and tapped the adventurer on
the shoulder。 Mr。 Montgomery； turning； was annoyed on finding
that he had not yet escaped。 He determined； however； to stick to
his false character； and deny all knowledge of the morning's
transaction。
〃Well； my young friend；〃 he said； 〃do you want me？ I believe I
have not the pleasure of your acquaintance。〃
〃You are mistaken there； Mr。 Felix Montgomery；〃 said Paul；
significantly。
〃By what name did you address me？〃 said the swindler； assuming a
tone of surprise。
〃I addressed you as Mr。 Felix Montgomery。〃
〃You have made a mistake； my good friend。 I am an humble
clergyman from Connecticut。 I am called the Rev。 Mr。 Barnes。
Should you ever visit Hayfield Centre； I shall be glad to receive
a call from you。〃
〃When I last met you； you were a jeweler from Syracuse；〃 said
Paul； bluntly。
Mr。 Montgomery laughed heartily。
〃My dear；〃 he said； turning to his wife； 〃is not this an
excellent joke？ My young friend here thinks he recognizes in me
a jeweler from Syracuse。〃
〃Indeed； you are quite mistaken；〃 said the lady。 〃My husband is
a country minister。 We came up to the city this morning on a
little business。〃
〃I understand on what business；〃 said Paul。 〃You wanted to