按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 only wish I could meet Mr。 Felix
Montgomery； I don't think he would find it so easy to outreach me
a second time。〃
〃Take some dinner first； Paul。〃
〃Then I must hurry it down； mother； I don't want to run the risk
of getting too late to Ball & Black's。 I can't help thinking
what a splendid thing it would be if we had the two hundred and
fifty dollars。 I would buy out Barry's stand； and I would get a
sewing…machine for you； and we could live much more comfortably。
It makes me mad to think I let that villain take me in so！ He
must think me jolly green。〃
〃Anybody might have been deceived； Paul。 You mustn't blame
yourself too much for that。〃
Leaving Paul on his way to Ball & Black's； we return to Mr。 Felix
Montgomery； as we shall continue to call him； though he had no
right to the name。 After stupefying Paul； as already described；
he made his way downstairs； and； leaving his key at the desk；
went out。
〃I hope my young friend will enjoy himself upstairs；〃 he chuckled
to himself。 〃He's quite welcome to the use of the room till
to…morrow morning。 It's paid for in advance； and I don't think I
shall find it convenient to stop there。〃
He took the ring from his vest pocket and glanced at it
furtively。
〃It's a beauty；〃 he murmured； complacently。 〃I never saw a
handsomer ring of the size。 What was it the boy said he was
offered for it？ Two hundred and fifty dollars！ That'll give me
a lift； and it doesn't come any too soon。 My money is pretty
low。〃
He walked across the City Hall Park； and at Barclay street
entered a University place car。
〃Evenin' paper； mister？〃 said a ragged newsboy； whose garments
were constructed on the most approved system of ventilation。
〃What have you got？〃
〃Evenin' Post； Mail； Express！〃
〃Give me an Express。 Here's ten cents。〃
〃I haven't got but three cents change； mister。〃
〃Never mind the change；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； in a fit of
temporary generosity； occasioned by his good luck。
〃Thank you； sir；〃 said the newsboy； regarding Mr。 Montgomery as a
philanthropist worthy of his veneration。
Felix Montgomery leaned back in his seat； and； with a benevolent
smile； ran his eyes over the columns of the Express。 Among the
paragraphs which attracted his attention was one relating to a
comrade； of similar profession； who had just been arrested in
Albany while in the act of relieving a gentleman of his
pocketbook。
〃Jerry always was a bungler；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； complacently；
to himself。 〃He can't hold a candle to me。 I flatter myself
that I know how to manage a little affair； like this； for
instance； as well as the next man。 It'll take a sharp detective
to lay hold of me。〃
It might have been thought that the manner in which he had gained
possession of the ring would have troubled Mr。 Montgomery； but it
was many years since he had led an honest life。 He had made a
living by overreaching others； and his conscience had become so
blunted as to occasion him little trouble。 He appeared to think
that the world owed him a living； and that he was quite justified
in collecting the debt in any way he could。
About twenty minutes brought the car to Amity street and Mr。
Montgomery signaled the conductor； and； the car being stopped； he
got out。
He walked a few rods in a westerly direction； and paused before a
three…story brick house； which appeared to have seen better days。
It was now used as a boarding； or rather lodging…house。 The
guests were not of a very high character； the landlady not being
particular as long as her rent was paid regularly。 Mr。
Montgomery ascended the steps in a jaunty way； and； opening the
door with a passkey； ascended the front staircase。 He paused
before a room on the third floor； and knocked in a peculiar
manner。
The door was opened by a tall woman； in rather neglected attire。
〃So you're back；〃 she said。
〃Yes； my dear； home again。 As the poet says； 'There is no place
like home。' 〃
〃I should hope there wasn't；〃 said Mrs。 Montgomery； looking about
her disdainfully。 〃A very delightful home it makes with such a
charming prospect of the back yard。 I've been moping here all
day。〃
〃You've found something to console you； I see；〃 said her husband；
glancing at the table； on which might be seen a bottle of brandy；
half…emptied； and a glass。
〃Yes；〃 said Mrs。 Montgomery； 〃I felt so bad I had to send out for
something。 It took every cent I had。 And； by the way； Mrs。
Flagg sent in her bill； this morning； for the last two weeks'
board； she said she must have it。〃
〃My dear；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery； 〃she shall have it。〃
〃You don't mean to say you've got the money； Tony！〃 exclaimed
his wife； in surprise。
〃No； I haven't got the money； but I've got what's just as good。〃
〃What have you got？〃
〃What do you say to this？〃 and Mr。 Montgomery drew from his
pocket the diamond ring； whose loss was so deeply felt by our
hero。
〃Is that genuine？〃 asked the lady。
〃It's the real thing。〃
〃What a beauty！ Where did you get it？〃
〃It was kindly presented me by a young man of the tender age of
fifteen or thereabouts； who had no further use for it。〃
〃You did him out of it； that is。 Tell me how you did it。〃
Mr。 Montgomery told the story。 His wife listened with interest
and appreciation。
〃That was a smart operation； Tony；〃 she said。
〃I should say it was； Maria。〃
〃How much is the ring worth？〃
〃Two hundred and fifty dollars。〃
〃Can you get that for it？〃
〃I can get that for it。〃
〃Tony； you are a treasure。〃
〃Have you just found that out； my dear？〃
CHAPTER XX
THE THIEF IN DISGUISE
It will be inferred； from the preceding conversation； that Mrs。
Montgomery was not likely to be shocked by the lack of honesty in
her husband。 Her conscience was as elastic as his； and she was
perfectly willing to help him spend his unlawful gains。
〃How soon are you going to sell the ring？〃 she asked。
〃I should like to dispose of it at once； Maria。〃
〃You will need to。 Mrs。 Flagg wants her bill paid at once。〃
〃I quite understand the necessity of promptness； my dear。 Only；
you know； one has to be cautious about disposing of articles
obtained in this way。〃
〃You say you left the boy locked up。 It seems to me； you'd
better sell the ring before he has a chance to get out and
interfere。〃
〃I don't know but you're right； my dear。 Well； we'll get ready。〃
〃Do you want me to go with you？〃
〃Yes； it will disarm suspicion if you are with me。 I think I'll
go as a country parson。〃
〃Country parsons are not apt to have diamond rings to dispose
of。〃
〃Very true； my dear。 The remark does credit to your good
judgment and penetratio