“All right, then,” said the officer as she finished speaking. “Just walk over two blocks and take a Third avenue car. Tell the conductor to put you off at the number you’ve got. I wouldn’t try to walk there—you’re apt to get tangled.”
Marion thanked him and hurried on, her cheeks tingling with excitement. It was lovely to be in a big city at last. To be actually experiencing one of her daisy chain wishes, but the next moment she thought of Dollie, and all the pleasure vanished.
There was no car in sight so Marion walked on. She was thinking deeply of Dollie now, and was almost crying.
Suddenly a man brushed past her and leered into her face. Marion turned her head instantly and stepped up as if to glance into a nearby window. The man walked on, leaving Marion staring absently at an array of jewelry, seemingly odds and ends, which were displayed in the window with price marks attached to them.
Slowly, and almost without realizing it Marion’s gaze concentrated itself upon a pair of curious shaped earrings. They were golden brown topazes in quaint, old fashioned settings. Then with a little scream she leaned forward until her head nearly touched the pane. They were her grandmother’s topazes—she recognized them instantly.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE FIRST NEWS OF DOLLIE.
As soon as Marion had recovered from her surprise at discovering the familiar jewels in such an unexpected manner in this little shop, she determined to make some inquiries.
“Will you please tell me where you got those?” she asked of the big nosed Israelite behind the counter, at the same time pointing to the topazes in the window.
“I comes honestly by doze, is dat vat you vant to know?” said the shopkeeper, shrewdly. He was on his guard instantly, and had no notion of parting with the jewels. From the nature of the place and its surroundings Marion easily guessed that it was one of those establishments where the possessor of jewelry is not too closely questioned as to where it was obtained, so long as he is willing to sell it at a low price. In other words a place where stolen goods are bought and sold.