"The trouble is that man stole a five-carat unset diamond from our store and came here to pawn it. I followed him and got it away from him. I expect the manager of the store here any moment so I want that man detained till he comes," said Dick. "It's a lie. The diamond is my property," said the accused wrathfully. "He brought a lady with him and she has just run away," said Dick. "That looks suspicious." "She was frightened by the trouble that you raised, you young imp." The policeman turned to the head clerk and asked for the facts as far as he knew them. The chief clerk told the officer all that had happened from the moment the parties to the dispute made their appearance. "This boy has the diamond, then?" said the policeman. "He has," answered the pawn clerk. "Hand it to me, young man." Dick took it out of his pocket and turned it over to the officer. "You charge this man with the theft of the stone from your store?" "I do." "Did you see him take it?" "I did not." "Then how do you know he stole it?" "Because circumstances point towards him." "What do you mean by circumstances?" Dick explained that the accused had called at the store and asked to be shown some diamonds. A tray of the stones had been submitted to his inspection under the eyes of the salesman. He looked over quite a number, and finally said the prices were too high for him to pay. Then he started to leave, but the salesman called him back because he noticed that one of the diamonds was missing. The man finally submitted to a search in the manager's office, and the diamond not being found on him, he was allowed to go. "You see," said the accused, brightening up, "there is no evidence against me." "You admit, then, you were in our store?" said Dick quickly. "Yes, I never denied the fact." "Is that so?" returned the boy. "A few minutes ago you said before this clerk that you had not been in any store this morning. Isn't that a fact?" added Dick, turning to the head clerk. "Yes, he did say that," admitted the clerk. "There you are," said Dick triumphantly. "I couldn't have said such a thing," protested the man. "At any rate, you have shown that I didn't steal the diamond from your store." "I have merely admitted that I did not see you take the stone. You'll have to explain how you came to have the missing stone in your possession when you came here to pawn it." "That stone belongs to the lady who was with me. It never came out of your store." "All right. When the manager arrives he will know the stone." "I don't care what he will have to say about it. The stone belongs to the lady." "You have been claiming it as your own right along." "Well, what's hers is mine, in a way." "Is she your wife?" "It's none of your business whether she is or not." "She did not claim the stone from the time I grabbed it till she ran away. If it was her property, I should think she would have put up a big kick."