It was too gay a party to notice a sinister figure following them
in a cab. But as they entered the fashionable jewelry shop, Spike,
who had alighted, walked slowly down the street.
Chatting with animation, the three moved over to the watch
counter, while the crook, with a determination not to risk missing
anything, entered the shop door, too.
"Mr. Thomas," asked Susie as her father's clerk bowed to them,
"please show Miss Dodge the wrist watches father was telling
about."
With another deferential bow, the clerk hastened to display a case
of watches and they bent over them. As each new watch was pointed
out, Elaine was delighted.
Unobserved, the crook walked over near enough to hear what was
going on.
At last, with much banter and yet care, Elaine selected one that
was indeed a beauty and was about to snap it on her dainty wrist,
when the clerk interrupted.
"I beg pardon," he suggested, "but I'd advise you to leave it to
be regulated, if you please."
"Yes, indeed," chimed in Susie. "Father always advises that."
Reluctantly, Elaine handed it over to the clerk.
"Oh, thank you, ever so much, Mr. Bennett," she said as he
unobtrusively paid for the watch and gave the address to which it
was to be sent when ready.
A moment later they went out and entered the car again.
As they did so, Spike, who had been looking various things in the
next case over as if undecided, came up to the watch counter.
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