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〃Because the offer was made by a pawnbroker; who never pays

quarter what an article is worth。  I am sure the ring is worth a

hundred dollars。〃



〃Yes; I am sure it is worth all that。〃



〃A hundred dollars!〃  repeated Jimmy; awestruck at the magnitude

of the sum。



〃What shall we do about it; Paul?〃 asked his mother。  〃A hundred

dollars will do us more good than the ring。〃



〃I know that; mother。  What I propose is; to carry it to Ball &

Black's; or Tiffany's; and sell it for whatever they say it is

worth。  They are first…class houses; and we can depend upon fair

treatment。〃



〃Your advice is good; Paul。  I think we will follow it。  When

will you go?〃



〃I will go at once。  I have nothing else to do; and I would like

to find out as soon as I can how much it will bring。  Old

Henderson wanted me to think; at first; that it was only

imitation; and offered me twenty shillings on it。  He's an old

cheat。  When he found that I wasn't to be humbugged; he raised

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 fai

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