Miss Allen, the head clerk, looked at Dorothy keenly.  She had that plain face, honest face, fearless in its simplicity, ready to stand up for the truth, whether to praise or denounce.

“This young lady,” she said, still with her eyes fixed upon Dorothy, “could not possibly have taken the ring.  I waited on these girls myself, and noticed they never left their stand at the counter.  The tray with that ring in it was at the extreme other end of the case.”

Dorothy could have hugged her.

“Oh, thank you so much!” she stammered.  “I was sure some one would know.”

“And did you notice the little woman with the pale face—­” Tavia began, but the superintendent interrupted her.

“That will do, if you please,” he ordered.  “Miss Allen, we found the ring in this young lady’s bag.”

For an instant the clerk looked surprised.  Then she regained that satisfied look, and seemed to wave her head defiantly.

“An open bag is a handy thing in a crowd,” she said.

At this the woman detective flushed up and left her seat at the desk.  She approached the young clerk.

“Are you in league with these—­shoplifters?” she sneered.

“Very likely,” replied Miss Allen with provoking coolness.  “I can just about afford to lose my place for the sake of an opal ring.”

The bitterness of her tone as she said this was as frank as were her eyes when she first looked at Dorothy and declared her innocent.

The superintendent bowed his head as if to say:  “You are right, Miss Allen, you cannot afford to risk your reputation in this store, and I am convinced you would do nothing of the sort.”

At this the woman detective, quick to see the possible turn in her case, hurried to strengthen her evidence.  She picked up the telephone and called for another clerk from the jewelry counter.  But her eagerness to fix the blame on Dorothy became all the more apparent and did not serve to help her case in the eyes of the superintendent.

Tavia showed her impatience—­she could see no reason why they should be thus detained unjustly.  Dorothy had lost her fear now, and appeared satisfied to await developments.  Miss Allen’s manner was reassuring.

Presently the clerk called for entered.

“Miss Berg,” began the superintendent, interrupting the detective’s attempt to put a question, “did you see these young ladies at your counter?”

The clerk glanced from Dorothy to Tavia.  “Yes, sir,” she replied.  “I showed them some rings!”

“Rings!” exclaimed Dorothy.  “We never looked at a ring!”

“There!” sneered the detective triumphantly, “I thought Miss Berg would know.”

Miss Allen fairly glared at the other clerk.

“You showed them rings?” asked the superintendent.  “What kind of rings?”

“Why, I had the tray—­with the mixed pieces—­”

“Just a minute,” interrupted Miss Allen.  “Miss Berg, what time did you ask permission to leave the floor?”