apprehension swept over Venner's face.

"Raymond--the name of Hafferman's cashier!" he cried. "Nothing of the
sort, Philip. Their cashier is named Briggs. I know him well."

"Briggs! Briggs!"

"Briggs--yes, Briggs!" reiterated Mr. Venner, excitedly. "By Heaven,
there must be something wrong here!"

"Dear me! If this Raymond was an impostor, we are done out of--"

"Wait--wait!"

Checking his partner with an impulsive gesture, Venner rushed into his
private office and seized his desk telephone, quickly calling up the
firm by which the diamonds had been sent.

Garside followed him into the room, only to hear the questions hurriedly
asked over the wire by his excited partner, who presently dropped the
telephone and leaped to his feet, crying loudly, so loudly that his
voice filled the entire store, and brought all hands hurrying in his
direction:

"There's no doubt of it, Garside, none whatever. You have been
duped--swindled--robbed of four thousand dollars' worth of gems! Raymond
was an impostor--a crook--"

"Venner--hush! You are losing your head," protested Garside, white with
dismay. "It's enough that we have lost the stones, so at least keep your