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〃Very well；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery。 〃I am willing to accept
whatever he may pronounce a fair price。〃
〃No doubt；〃 thought the clerk。
He carried the ring to his employer； and quickly explained the
circumstances。
〃The man is doubtless a thief。 He must be arrested；〃 said the
jeweler。
〃If I go for an officer； he will take alarm。〃
〃Invite him to come into the back part of the shop； and I will
protract the negotiation while you summon a policeman。〃
The clerk returned； and at his invitation Mr。 Montgomery walked
to the lower end of the store； where he was introduced to the
head of the establishment。 Sharp though he was； he suspected no
plot。
〃You are the owner of this ring？〃 asked Mr。 Tiffany。
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the adventurer。 〃It has been in our family for
a long time。〃
〃But you wish to sell it now？〃
〃Yes； I have come near losing it several times； and prefer to
dispose of it。 What is its value？〃
〃That requires some consideration。 I will examine it closely。〃
Mr。 Montgomery stood with his back to the entrance； waiting
patiently； while the jeweler appeared to be engaged in a close
examination of the ring。 He congratulated himself that no
questions had been asked which it might have been difficult for
him to answer。 He made up his mind that after due examination
Mr。 Tiffany would make an offer； which he determined in advance
to accept； whatever it might be； since he would consider himself
fortunate to dispose of it at even two…thirds of its value。
Meanwhile the clerk quietly slipped out of the store； and at a
short distance encountered a policeman； upon whom he called for
assistance。 At the same moment Paul and Mr。 Preston came up。
Our hero； on being released from arrest； had sought Mr。 Preston；
and the latter obligingly agreed to go with him to Tiffany's； and
certify to his honesty； that； if the ring should be brought
there； it might be retained for him。 Paul did not recognize the
clerk； but the latter at once remembered him。
〃Are you not the boy that brought a diamond ring into our store
this morning？〃 he asked。
〃Into Tiffany's？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Have you seen anything of it？〃 asked our hero； eagerly。 〃I am
the one who brought it in。〃
〃A man just brought it into the store；〃 said the clerk。
〃Is he there now？〃
〃He is talking with Mr。 Tiffany。 I came out for a policeman。 He
will be arrested at once。〃
〃Good！〃 ejaculated Paul； 〃I am in luck。 I thought I should
never see the ring again。 What sort of a man is he？〃
From the description； Paul judged that it was Felix Montgomery
himself； and； remembering what a trick the adventurer had played
upon him at Lovejoy's Hotel； he felt no little satisfaction in
the thought that the trapper was himself trapped at last。
〃I'll go along with you；〃 he said。 〃I want to see that man
arrested。〃
〃You had better stay outside just at first； until we have secured
him。〃
Meanwhile Mr。 Tiffany； after a prolonged examination； said： 〃The
ring is worth two hundred and fifty dollars。〃
〃That will be satisfactory；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； promptly。
〃Shall I give you a check for the amount？〃 asked the jeweler。
〃I should prefer the money； as I am a stranger in the city； and
not known at the banks。〃
〃I can make the check payable to bearer； and then you will have
no difficulty in getting it cashed。〃
While this conversation was going on； the clerk entered the store
with the policeman； but Mr。 Montgomery's back was turned； and he
was not aware of the fact till the officer tapped him on the
shoulder； saying： 〃You are my prisoner。〃
〃What does this mean？ There is some mistake；〃 said the
adventurer； wheeling round with a start。
〃No mistake at all。 You must come with me。〃
〃What have I done？ You take me for some one else。〃
〃You have stolen a diamond ring。〃
〃Who says so？〃 demanded the adventurer； boldly。 〃It is true I
brought one here to sell； but it has belonged to me for years。〃
〃You are mistaken； Mr。 Montgomery；〃 said Paul； who had come up
unperceived。 〃You stole that ring from me this morning； after
dosing me with chloroform at Lovejoy's Hotel。〃
〃It is a lie；〃 said the adventurer； boldly。 〃That boy is my son。
He is in league with his mother to rob me。 She sent him here
this morning unknown to me。 Finding it out； I took the ring from
him； and brought it here myself。〃
Paul was certainly surprised at being claimed as a son by the man
who had swindled him； and answered： 〃I never saw you before this
morning。 I have no father living。〃
〃I will guarantee this boy's truth and honesty；〃 said Mr。
Preston； speaking for the first time。 〃I believe you know me；
Mr。 Tiffany。〃
〃I need no other assurance；〃 said the jeweler； bowing。 〃Officer；
you may remove your prisoner。〃
〃The game is up；〃 said the adventurer； finding no further chance
for deception。 〃I played for high stakes； and I have lost the
game。 I have one favor to ask。 Will some one let my wife know
where I am？〃
〃Give me her address；〃 said Paul； 〃and I will let her know。〃
〃No。 Amity street。 Ask her to come to the station…house to
see me。〃
〃I will go at once。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； 〃as I am not to have the ring；
I don't know that I am sorry it has fallen into your hands。 One
piece of advice I will venture to offer you； my lad；〃 he added；
smiling。 〃Beware of any jewelers hailing from Syracuse。 They
will cheat you； if you give them a chance。〃
〃I will be on my guard；〃 said Paul。 〃Can I do anything more for
you？〃
〃Nothing； thank you。 I have a fast friend at my side； who will
look after me。〃
The officer smiled grimly at the jest； and the two left the store
arm in arm。
〃Do you still wish to sell this ring？〃 asked Mr。 Tiffany；
addressing Paul。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃I renew my offer of this morning。 I will give you two hundred
and fifty dollars。〃
〃I shall be glad to accept it。〃
The sale was quickly effected； and Paul left the store with what
seemed to him a fortune in his pocket
〃Be careful not to lose your money；〃 said Mr Preston。
〃I should like to place a hundred and fifty dollars in your
hands；〃 said Paul； turning to Mr。 Preston。
〃I will willingly take care of it for you； and allow you interest
upon it。〃
The transfer was made； and； carefully depositing the balance of
the money in his pocketbook； our hero took leave of his friend
and sought the house in Amity street。
CHAPTER XXV
PAUL'S FINAL SUCCESS
Mrs。 Montgomery impatiently awaited the return of her husband。
Meanwhile she commenced packing the single trunk which answered
both for her husband and herself。 She was getting tired of New
York； and anxious to leave for Philadelphia； being fearful lest
certain little transactions in which she and her husband had
taken part should b