“You here!” said the jeweler.  “Where is Andy Grant?”

“I was obliged to discharge him,” replied Rich, nervously.

“Why?”

“Very much to my surprise I discovered that he had stolen a gold watch from the case.”

“What evidence had you of it?”

“I found the pawn ticket in his pocket.  He pawned it on Third Avenue.”

“This surprises me very much,” said the jeweler, quietly.  “Andrew did not strike me as a dishonest boy.”

“I was amazed, sir.  I could hardly believe my eyes.”

“What led you to search for the ticket?”

“I knew that the watch must have been taken either by him or John, who came into the shop occasionally.  I accordingly searched both.”

“And you found the ticket in Andrew’s pocket?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What did he say?  Did he admit the theft?”

“No; he brazened it out, but of course the evidence was overwhelming.”

“So you discharged him?”

“Yes; I did not dare to have him remain.”

“And you engaged your nephew in his place?”

“Yes, sir.  John happened to be here, and knew something of the duties, so I engaged him temporarily, subject, of course, to your approval.”

“Where is Andrew now?  Have you seen him since?”

“John saw him one day.  Where was it, John?”

“On Broadway, near the St. Denis Hotel.  He said he had a place.”

“Where?”

“In a real estate office.”

“I suppose you gave him no recommendation, Mr. Rich?”

“No, sir; I couldn’t do it conscientiously.  Of course, now that you have returned, if you are dissatisfied with John’s being here, we can advertise for another boy.”

“I will take a day to consider it.  I shall only stay here half an hour and then go up to the house.”

When Mr. Flint left the store, Simon Rich said: 

“The old man took Andy’s discharge more quietly than I anticipated.”

“Do you think he will let me stay, Uncle Simon?”

“I can’t tell yet.  One thing I must tell you—­you won’t stay long unless you turn over a new leaf and attend to your duties.”

“I’ll do that, never fear!  What I am afraid of is, that Andy will come around and tell a lot of lies.”

“I don’t think it will work.  You see, the pawn ticket was found in his pocket.  He can’t get over that very well.”

John knew more than his uncle of the nature of Andy’s defense, and he could not help feeling apprehensive.

Soon after six o’clock Andy made his appearance at Mr. Flint’s house, where he was cordially received.

“I have heard the story of Mr. Rich, Andy,” he said.  “Now let me have your defense.”

“I can give it very briefly.  The watch was pawned by John Crandall.  Of course it was given him by Mr. Rich.”

“How did you find that out?”

“I went around to the pawnbroker’s, and obtained a description of the boy who pawned the watch.  It tallied exactly with John’s appearance.  That was not all.  I met, the same day, a boy named Jimmy Callahan.  He saw John coming out of the pawnbroker’s the day before the charge was made against me.”