"Are you in league with these—shoplifters?" she sneered.
"Very likely," replied Miss Allen with provoking coolness. "I can just about afford to lose my place for the sake of an opal ring."
The bitterness of her tone as she said this was as frank as were her eyes when she first looked at Dorothy and declared her innocent.
The superintendent bowed his head as if to say: "You are right, Miss Allen, you cannot afford to risk your reputation in this store, and I am convinced you would do nothing of the sort."
At this the woman detective, quick to see the possible turn in her case, hurried to strengthen her evidence. She picked up the telephone and called for another clerk from the jewelry counter. But her eagerness to fix the blame on Dorothy became all the more apparent and did not serve to help her case in the eyes of the superintendent.
Tavia showed her impatience—she could see no reason why they should be thus detained unjustly. Dorothy had lost her fear now, and appeared satisfied to await developments. Miss Allen's manner was reassuring.
Presently the clerk called for entered.
"Miss Berg," began the superintendent, interrupting the detective's attempt to put a question, "did you see these young ladies at your counter?"
The clerk glanced from Dorothy to Tavia. "Yes, sir," she replied. "I showed them some rings!"
"Rings!" exclaimed Dorothy. "We never looked at a ring!"