He questioned her sharply as to the actions of Dorothy and Tavia while they were in her department. Did they appear hurried, or did they seem to crowd others? These and like questions were put to the clerk. Dorothy felt by this time that the whole thing was a farce. How could they help crowding? And why would they not appear in a hurry, when there were not half enough clerks to attend to the customers?
Miss Allen, the head clerk, looked at Dorothy keenly. She had that plain face, honest face, fearless in its simplicity, ready to stand up for the truth, whether to praise or denounce.
"This young lady," she said, still with her eyes fixed upon Dorothy, "could not possibly have taken the ring. I waited on these girls myself, and noticed they never left their stand at the counter. The tray with that ring in it was at the extreme other end of the case."
Dorothy could have hugged her.
"Oh, thank you so much!" she stammered. "I was sure some one would know."
"And did you notice the little woman with the pale face——" Tavia began, but the superintendent interrupted her.
"That will do, if you please," he ordered. "Miss Allen, we found the ring in this young lady's bag."
For an instant the clerk looked surprised. Then she regained that satisfied look, and seemed to wave her head defiantly.
"An open bag is a handy thing in a crowd," she said.
At this the woman detective flushed up and left her seat at the desk. She approached the young clerk.