“I guess it would.” Harry smiled and walked away. He had learned nothing. He had not even had time to count the sets, or fix their appearance in his mind. True, he had had an object in mentioning Poe to the man, but his ruse had failed. The man seemed not in the least perturbed.
“What had I better do?” was the uppermost question in Harry’s mind. “I hate to tell Mr. Rexford that there is a thief in this department, when I haven’t the least idea who it is. I’ll wait a little, then I’ll go back and count the sets when that fellow isn’t around. If one’s missing later, I’ll know. But suppose somebody should sell one? I’d have to go around the department and look on everyone’s book. I can’t do that. I’ll keep my eyes open, though; maybe I’ll find out something. I’ll look at those sets again, when I have a good chance.”
But a little later Harry was ordered to the stock-room and spent not only the rest of that day there, arranging surplus stock, but the next three days, as well, and in the fulfilling of his duties, the disturbing conversation was, for the time being, forgotten.
It was revived when, one day, a week later, he stopped at Exchange Desk number 10 for a moment’s conversation with his old friend. Miss Welch.
“Well, Kiddy, how’s books?” greeted the kind-hearted Irish girl. “Aren’t you the busy boy, though? Haven’t much time for your old friends, have you?”
“I’ve been pretty busy,” admitted Harry, “but I’ve always time for you, Miss Welch.”
“Hear him talk,” smiled the girl. “Don’t cry about it, youngster. I know you haven’t forgot your old friend Irish. I’ve been busy myself. Most of these people with the exchange habit ought to be in a sanitarium. Say, there’s an old friend of yours over there in the jewelry. I wonder what’s up.”
Harry’s eyes followed Miss Welch’s quick glance. Leaning against the counter, deep in conversation with Mr. Cohen, the buyer of the jewelry, stood Mr. Prescott, the head detective.
An almost imperceptible shudder shook the lad’s slender body. He would never forget Mr. Prescott.
“I guess it’s about that stock they’ve been missing in jewelry,” speculated Miss Welch.