As the clerk seemed disinclined to surrender the ring, Mr. Montgomery said: “Young man, you will find it to be a serious matter to withhold my property.”
“Perhaps I had better give it to him,” said the clerk, imposed upon by the adventurer's manner.
“Require him to prove property. If it is really his, he can readily do this.”
“My dear,” said the Rev. Mr. Barnes, “we will leave the store.”
“What, and leave the ring?”
“For the present. I will invoke the aid of the police to save me from being robbed in this extraordinary manner.”
He walked to the street door, accompanied by his wife. He was deeply disappointed at the failure of the sale, and would gladly have wreaked vengeance upon the stranger who had prevented it. But he saw that his safety required an immediate retreat. In addition to his own disappointment, he had to bear his wife's censure.
“If you had the spirit of a man, Mr. Montgomery,” she commenced, “you wouldn't have given up that ring so easily. He had no business to keep it.”
“I would have called in a policeman if I dared, but you know I am not on the best of terms with these gentlemen.”
“Are we to lose the ring, then?”