He, too, had the utmost confidence in Steve Dowdy, and found great difficulty in believing that the other could ever descend to such a low state as making a thief out of himself.
"The plaguy pearls must have fairly turned his head, Max," he declared, with almost savage earnestness.
"Just what I was beginning to believe," the other admitted, with a shake of his head.
"But what can we do about it, Max?"
"I'm going to watch," replied the other.
"To-night, you mean?"
"Yes. The fever is still in Steve's veins. He doesn't seem to act like himself. And, Owen, d'ye know, I've read somewhere that some people are strangely affected by certain kinds of gems. They seem bewitched when looking at or handling the same."
"That's it, Max. Pearls must have some sort of terrible fascination for poor Steve."
"He admitted as much himself, and you all heard him say so," declared Max.
"All right. Count me in," Owen went on.