Nan was very much frightened; yet her sense of honesty came to her rescue. She cried:
"Why should I be accused? I am innocent—I assure you, I would not do such a thing. Why! I have more than twenty dollars in my purse right now. I will show you. Why should I steal what I can buy?"
To Nan Sherwood this question seemed unanswerable. But the store detective scarcely noticed. He looked at the lovely woman and asked:
"Madam is sure this girl took the lavalliére?"
"Oh, mercy, no! I would not accuse anybody of such a thing," responded the woman, in her low voice.
"But we know who you are, madam, we do not know this girl," said the detective, doubtfully. "You are a customer whom the store is glad to serve. This girl is quite unknown to us. I have no doubt but she is guilty—as you say."
He shook the troubled Nan by the arm. The girl was trying to control herself—to keep from breaking down and crying. Somehow, she felt that that would not help her in the least.
Without warning, a low voice spoke at Nan's side: "I know this girl. Of what is she accused?"
Only a few beside the detective and Nan heard the words.
"Of stealing something from the counter," said the man.