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his offer by degrees to twenty…five dollars。 That was what made
me suspect its value。〃
〃If you get a hundred dollars； Paul；〃 said Jimmy； 〃you can buy
out the stand。〃
〃That depends on whether mother will lend me the money；〃 said
Paul。 〃You know it's hers。 She may not be willing to lend
without security。〃
〃I am so unaccustomed to being a capitalist；〃 said Mrs。 Hoffman；
smiling； 〃that I shan't know how to sustain the character。 I
don't think I shall be afraid to trust you； Paul。〃
Once more； with the ring carefully wrapped in a paper and
deposited in his pocketbook； Paul started uptown。 Tiffany； whose
fame as a jeweler is world…wide； was located on Broadway。 He had
not yet removed to his present magnificent store on Union Square。
Paul knew the store； but had never entered it。 Now； as he
entered； he was struck with astonishment at the sight of the
immense and costly stock； unrivaled by any similar establishment；
not only in the United States； but in Europe。 Our hero walked up
to the counter； and stood beside a richly…dressed lady who was
bargaining for a costly bracelet。 He had to wait ten minutes
while the lady was making her choice from a number submitted to
her for inspection。 Finally she selected one； and paid for it。
The clerk； now being at leisure； turned to our hero and asked：
〃Well； young man； what can I do for you？〃
〃I have a ring which I should like to show you。 I want to know
how much it is worth。〃
〃Very well。 Let me see it。〃
When Paul produced the diamond ring； the clerk； who had long been
in the business； and perceived its value at once； started in
surprise。
〃This is a very valuable ring；〃 he said。
〃So I thought；〃 said Paul。 〃How much is it worth？〃
〃Do you mean how much should we ask for it？〃
〃No； how much would you give for it？〃
〃Probably two hundred and fifty dollars。〃 Paul was quite
startled on finding the ring so much more valuable than he had
supposed。 He had thought it might possibly be worth a hundred
dollars； but he had not imagined any rings were worth as much as
the sum named。
〃Will you buy it of me？〃 he asked。
The clerk regarded Paul attentively； and； as he thought； a little
suspiciously。
〃Does the ring belong to you？〃 he asked。
〃No； to my mother。〃
〃Where did she buy it？〃
〃She didn't buy it at all。 She found it one day at Central Park。
It belongs to her now。 She advertised for an owner； and examined
the papers to see if it was advertised as lost； but could hear
nothing of the one to whom it belonged。〃
〃How long ago was this？〃
〃Two years ago。〃
〃I will show this ring to Mr。 Tiffany；〃 said the clerk。
〃Very well。〃
Paul took a seat and waited。
Soon Mr。 Tiffany came up。
〃Are you the boy who brought in the ring？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃You say your mother found it two years ago in Central Park？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃It is a valuable ring。 I should be willing to buy it for two
hundred and fifty dollars； if I were quite certain that you had a
right to dispose of it。〃
〃I have told you the truth； Mr。 Tiffany；〃 said Paul； a little
nettled at having his word doubted。
〃That may be； but there is still a possibility that the original
owner may turn up。〃
〃Won't you buy it； then？〃 asked Paul； disappointed； for； if he
were unable to dispose of the ring； he would have to look
elsewhere for the means of buying out Barry's street stand。
〃I don't say that； but I should want a guaranty of indemnity
against loss； in case the person who lost it should present a
claim。〃
〃In that case；〃 said Paul； 〃I would give you back the money you
paid me。〃
Mr。 Tiffany smiled。
〃But suppose the money were all spent；〃 he suggested。 〃I suppose
you are intending to use the money？〃
〃I am going to start in business with it；〃 said Paul； 〃and I hope
to add to it。〃
〃Every one thinks so who goes into business； but some get
disappointed。 You see； my young friend； that I should incur a
risk。 Remember； I don't know you。 I judge from your appearance
that you are honest； but appearances are sometimes deceitful。〃
〃Then I suppose you won't buy it？〃 said Paul； who saw the force
of this remark。
〃If you can bring here any responsible gentleman who knows you；
and is willing to guarantee me against loss in the event of the
owner's being found I will buy the ring for two hundred and fifty
dollars。〃
Paul brightened up。 He thought at once of Mr。 Preston； and； from
the friendly interest which that gentleman appeared to take in
him； he judged that he would not refuse him this service。
〃I think I can do that；〃 he said。 〃Do you know Mr。 Andrew
Preston？ He is a wealthy gentleman； who lives on Madison avenue；
between Thirty…fourth and Thirty…fifth streets。〃
〃Not personally。 I know him by reputation。〃
〃Will he be satisfactory？〃
〃Entirely so。〃
〃He knows me well；〃 said Paul。 〃I think he will be willing to
stand security for me。 I will come back in a day or two。〃
Paul took the ring； and left the store。 He determined to call
that evening on Mr。 Preston； and ask the favor indicated。
CHAPTER XVII
MR。 FELIX MONTGOMERY
Paul had an errand farther uptown； and； on leaving Tiffany's
walked up as far as Twenty…third street。 Feeling rather tired；
he got on board a University place car to return。 They had
accomplished； perhaps； half the distance； when； to his surprise；
George Barry entered the car。
〃How do you happen to be here； at this time； Barry？〃 he asked。
〃I thought you were attending to business。〃
〃I closed up for a couple of hours； having an errand at home。
Where have you been？〃
〃To Tiffany's。〃
〃What； the jewelers？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃To buy a diamond ring； I suppose；〃 said Barry； jocosely。
〃Nonot to buy； but to sell one。〃
〃You are joking；〃 said his companion； incredulously。
〃No； I am not。 The ring belongs to my mother。 I am trying to
raise money enough on it to buy you out。〃
〃I didn't know your mother was rich enough to indulge in such
expensive jewelry。〃
〃She isn't； and that's the reason I am trying to sell it。〃
〃I mean； I didn't think she was ever rich enough。〃
〃I'll explain it；〃 said Paul。 〃The ring was found some time
since in Central Park。 As no owner has ever appeared； though we
advertised it； we consider that it belongs to us。〃
〃How much is it worth？〃
〃Mr。 Tiffany offered two hundred and fifty dollars for it。〃
Barry uttered an exclamation of surprise。
〃Well； that is what I call luck。 Of course； you accepted it。〃
〃I intend to do so； but I must bring some gentleman who will
guarantee that I am all right and have the right to sell it。〃
〃Can you do that？〃
〃I think so！ I am going to ask Mr。 Preston。 I think he will do
me that favor。〃
〃Then there's a fair chance of your buying me out。〃
〃Yes。 I guess I can settle the whole thing up to…morrow。〃
〃Have you got the ring with you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I should like to see it； if you have no objection。〃
Paul drew it from his pocket； and passed it over to Barry。
〃It's a handsome one； but who would think such a little thing
could be worth two hundred and fifty dollars？〃
〃I'd rather have the money than the ring。〃
〃So would I。〃
On the right of Paul sat a man of about forty； well…dressed and
respectable in appearance； with a heavy gold chain ostentatiously
depending from his watch pocket； and with the air of a
substantial citizen。 He listened to the conversation between
Barry and Paul with evident interest； and when Barry had returned
the ring； he said：
〃Young gentleman； would you be kind enough to let me look at your
ring？ I am myself in business as a jeweler in Syracuse； and so
feel an interest in examining it。〃
〃Certainly； sir；〃 said Paul； the stranger's explanation of his
motives inspiring him with perfect confidence。
The jeweler from Syracuse took the ring in his hands and appeared
to examine it carefully。
〃This is a handsome ring；〃 he said； 〃and one of great value。 How
much were you offered for it at Tiffany's？〃
〃Two hundred and fifty dollars。〃
〃It is worth more。〃
〃Yes； I suppose so；〃 said Paul； 〃but he has to sell it； and make
a profit。〃
〃He could do that； and yet make a profit。 I will pay you two
hundred and seventy…five dollars； myselfthat is； on one
condition。〃
〃I don't object to getting twenty…five dollars more；〃 said Paul。
〃What is the condition？〃
〃I have an order from a gentleman for a diamond ring for a young
ladyan engagement ring； in short。 If this suits him； as I
think it will； I will pay you what I said。 I can easily get
three hundred and twenty…five from him。〃
〃How are you going to find out whether it will suit him？〃
〃Easil