there was a little throng of people, following Mr. Track after
the man who had knocked on the window.

"I wish I was there, instead of here," mused the lad. "Still I
can't leave, or a thief might come in. Perhaps that was the game,
and one of the gang is hanging around, hoping the store will be
deserted, so he can enter and take what he likes."

Tom had read of such cases, and he at once resolved that he
would not only remain in the jewelry shop, but that he would lock
the door, which he at once proceeded to do. Then he breathed
easier.

The town of Shopton, in the outskirts of which Tom lived with
his father, and where the scene above narrated took place, was
none too well lighted at night, and the lad had his doubts about
the jeweler catching the oddly-acting man, especially as the
latter had a good start.

"But some one may head him off," reasoned Tom. "Though if they
do catch him, I don't see what they can prove against him. Hello,
here I am carrying this diamond pin around. I might lose it.
Guess I'll put it back on the tray."

He replaced in the proper receptacle one of the pins he bad
been examining when the excitement occurred.

"I wonder if Mary will like that?" he said, softly. "I hope she
does. Perhaps it would be better if she could come here herself
and pick out one--"