place up."

"Sizing it up?"

"Yes. Getting the lay of the land, so he or some confederate
could commit a robbery, maybe."

"A robbery? Do you think that man was a thief?"

"I don't know that he was, Tom, and yet a jeweler has to be
always on the watch, and that isn't a joke, either, Tom Swift.
Swindlers and thieves are always on the alert for a chance to rob
a jewelry store, and they work many games."

"I didn't notice any particular man looking in here," said Tom,
who still held the diamond brooch in his hand.

"Well I did," went on the jeweler. "I happened to glance out of
the window when you were looking at the pins, and I saw his eyes
staring in here in a suspicious manner. He may have a confederate
with him, and, when you're gone, one may come in, and pretend to
want to look at some diamonds. Then, when I'm showing him some,
the other man will enter, engage my attention, and the first man
will slip out with a diamond ring or pin. It's often done."

"You seem to have it all worked out, Mr. Track," observed the
lad, with a smile. "How do you know but what I'm in with a gang
of thieves, and that I'm only pretending to want to buy a diamond
pin?"