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〃Is your wife better？〃 he asked。
〃Much better； thank you。 A turn in the air always relieves her；
and she is quite herself again。 I have returned because it is
necessary for me to leave the city by the evening train； and my
time is； therefore； short。 Will you be kind enough to show the
ring to your employer； and ask him if he will purchase？〃
The clerk returned； and said that the firm would pay two hundred
and fifty dollars； but must be assured of his right to dispose of
it。
〃Did you mention my name？〃 asked the adventurer。
〃I mentioned that you were a clergyman。 I could not remember the
name。〃
〃The Rev。 Mr。 Barnes； of Hayfield Centre； Connecticut。 I have
been preaching there foris it six or seven years； my dear？〃
〃Seven；〃 said his wife。
〃I should think that would be sufficient。 You may mention that
to Mr。 Ball or Mr。 Black； if you please。 I presume after that he
will not be afraid to purchase。〃
Mr。 Montgomery said this with an air of conscious respectability
and high standing； which might readily impose upon strangers。
But； by bad luck； what he had said was heard by a person able to
confute him。
〃Did you say you were from Hayfield Centre？〃 asked a gentleman；
standing a few feet distant。
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery。
〃I think you said your name was Barnes？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And that you have been preaching there for the last seven
years？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered Mr。 Montgomery； but there was rather less
confidence in his tone。 In fact he was beginning to feel uneasy。
〃It is very strange；〃 said the other。 〃I have a sister living in
Hayfield Centre； and frequently visit the place myself； and so of
course know something of it。 Yet I have never heard of any
clergyman named Barnes preaching there。〃
Mr。 Montgomery saw that things looked critical。
〃You are strangely mistaken； sir；〃 he said。 〃However； I will not
press the sale。 If you will return the ring （to the clerk） I
will dispose of it elsewhere。〃
But the clerk's suspicions had been aroused by what had been
said。
〃I will first speak to Mr。 Ball；〃 he said。
〃There is no occasion to speak to him。 I shall not sell the ring
to…day。 To…morrow； I will come with witnesses whose testimony
will outweigh that of this gentleman； who I suspect never was in
Hayfield Centre in his life。 I will trouble you for the ring。〃
〃I hope you don't intend to give it to him；〃 said the gentleman。
〃The presumption is that； as he is masquerading； he has not come
by it honestly。〃
〃I shall not deign to notice your insinuations；〃 said Mr。
Montgomery； who concealed beneath a consequential tone his real
uneasiness。 〃The ring； if you please。〃
〃Don't give it to him。〃
As the clerk seemed disinclined to surrender the ring； Mr。
Montgomery said： 〃Young man； you will find it to be a serious
matter to withhold my property。〃
〃Perhaps I had better give it to him；〃 said the clerk； imposed
upon by the adventurer's manner。
〃Require him to prove property。 If it is really his； he can
readily do this。〃
〃My dear；〃 said the Rev。 Mr。 Barnes； 〃we will leave the store。〃
〃What； and leave the ring？〃
〃For the present。 I will invoke the aid of the police to save me
from being robbed in this extraordinary manner。〃
He walked to the street door； accompanied by his wife。 He was
deeply disappointed at the failure of the sale； and would gladly
have wreaked vengeance upon the stranger who had prevented it。
But he saw that his safety required an immediate retreat。 In
addition to his own disappointment； he had to bear his wife's
censure。
〃If you had the spirit of a man； Mr。 Montgomery；〃 she commenced；
〃you wouldn't have given up that ring so easily。 He had no
business to keep it。〃
〃I would have called in a policeman if I dared； but you know I am
not on the best of terms with these gentlemen。〃
〃Are we to lose the ring； then？〃
〃I am afraid so； unless I can make them believe in the store that
I am really what I pretend to be。〃
〃Can't you do it？〃
〃Not very easily； unless stay； I have an idea。 Do you see that
young man？〃
He directed his wife's attention to a young man； evidently fresh
from the country； who was approaching； staring open…eyed at the
unwonted sights of the city。 He was dressed in a blue coat with
brass buttons； while his pantaloons； of a check pattern；
terminated rather higher up than was in accordance with the
fashion。
〃Yes； I see him；〃 said Mrs。 Montgomery。 〃What of him？〃
〃I am going to recover the ring through his help。〃
〃I don't see how。〃
〃You will see。〃
〃How do you do？〃 said the adventurer； cordially； advancing to
the young man； and seizing his hand。
〃Pretty smart；〃 said the countryman； looking surprised。
〃Are your parents quite well？〃
〃They're so's to be around。〃
〃When did you come to the city？〃
〃This mornin'。〃
〃Do you stay any length of time？〃
〃I'm goin' back this afternoon。〃
〃You didn't expect to meet me now； did you？〃 asked Mr。
Montgomery。
〃I s'pose I'd orter know you；〃 said the perplexed youth； 〃but I
can't think what your name is。〃
〃What！ Not know Mr。 Barnes； the minister of Hayfield Centre？
Don't you remember hearing me preach for your minister？〃
〃Seems to me I do；〃 answered the young man； persuading himself
that he ought to remember。
〃Of course you do。 Now； my young friend； I am very glad to have
met you。〃
〃So am I；〃 said the other； awkwardly。
〃You can do me a favor； if you will。〃
〃Of course； I will；〃 said Jonathan； 〃if it's anything I can do。〃
〃Yes； you will have no trouble about it。 You see； I went into a
jeweler's near by to sell a valuable ring； and they wanted to
make sure I was really a minister； and not intending to cheat
them。 If you will go in with me； and say that you have often
heard me preach； and that I am the Rev。 Mr。 Barnes； of Hayfield
Centre； I won't mind paying you five dollars for your trouble。〃
〃All right； I'll do it；〃 said the rustic； considering that it
would be an unusually easy way of earning few dollars。
〃You'll remember the name； won't you？〃
〃YesParson Barnes； of Hayfield Centre。〃
〃That is right。 The store is near by。 Walk along with us； and
we will be there in five minutes。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
A NEW EXPEDIENT
〃I believe your name is Peck？〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； hazarding a
guess。
〃No； it's Young； Ephraim Young。〃
〃Of course it is。 I remember now； but I am apt to forget names。
You said your parents were quite well？〃
〃Yes； they're pretty smart。〃
〃I am glad to hear it； I have the pleasantest recollections of
your excellent father。 Let me see； didn't you call there with me
once； Mrs。 Barnes？〃
〃Not that I remember。〃
〃You must go with me the next time。 I want you to know the
parents of our