"If the earring had been simply lost, then I should send an advertisement to the papers at once. But if it has been stolen by this tramp, and you appear to consider that point pretty conclusive----" "Oh, quite conclusive," interrupted the pater. "She has that earring as sure as this is an umbrella in Johnny Ludlow's hand. Had it been dropped anywhere on the ground, we must have found it." "Then we won't advertise it. At least not in to-morrow's papers," concluded Sergeant Cripp. And telling us to leave the matter entirely in his hands, he showed us out. The Squire went up the street with his hands in his pockets, looking rather glum. "I'm not sure that he's right about the advertisement, Johnny," he said at length. "I lay awake last night in bed, making up the wording of it in my own mind. Perhaps he knows best, though." "I suppose he does, sir." And he went on again, up one street, and down another, deep in thought. "Let's see--we have nothing to do here to-day, have we, Johnny?" "Except to get the pills made up. The mother said we were to be sure and not forget them." "Oh, ay. And that's all the way down in Sidbury! Couldn't we as well get them made up by a druggist nearer?" "But it is the Sidbury druggist who holds the prescription." "What a bother! Well, lad, let us put our best leg foremost, for I want to catch the one-o'clock train, if I can." Barely had we reached Sidbury, when who should come swinging along the pavement but old Coney, in a rough white great-coat and top-boots. Not being market-day, we were surprised to see him. "I had to come in about some oats," he explained. And then the Squire told him of our visit to the place, and the sergeant's opinion about the advertisement. "Cripp's wrong," said Coney, decisively. "Not advertise the earring!--why, it is the first step that ought to be taken." "Well, so I thought," said the pater. "The thing's not obliged to have been stolen, Squire; it may have been dropped out of the ear in the road, and picked up by some one. The offering of a reward might bring it back again." "And I'll be shot if I don't do it," exclaimed the pater. "I can see as far through a millstone as Cripp can." Turning into the Hare and Hounds, which was old Coney's inn, they sat down at a table, called for pen and ink, and began to draw out an advertisement between them. "Lost! An earring of great value, pink topaz and diamonds," wrote the Squire on a leaf of his pocket-book; and when he had got as far as that he looked up. "Johnny, you go over to Eaton's for a sheet or two of writing-paper. We'll have it in all three of the newspapers. And look here, lad--you can run for the pills at the same time. Take care of the street slides. I nearly came down on one just now, you know."