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