replied his companion, with emphasis, "it is. And I think you'll
find it is expensive, also."

"That so? How much?" turning to the salesman.

The latter gave the price of the chain. Captain Elisha whistled.

"Whew! Jerushy!" he exclaimed. "And it wouldn't much more than go around
my wrist, at that. All the same size, are they?"

"No. Some are longer. The longer ones are higher priced, of course."

"Sartin! They're for fleshy folks, I s'pose. Mrs. Thoph Kenney down
home, she'd have to splice three of 'em together to make the round trip.
Thoph's always scared he won't get his money's wuth in a trade, but he
couldn't kick when he got her. To give the minister a dollar and walk
off with two hundred and eighty pounds of wife is showin' some business
sagacity, hey? To do him justice, I will say that _he_ seems to be
satisfied; she's the one that does the complainin'. I guess this is the
most expensive counter in the store, ain't it, Mister?"

The clerk laughed. "No, indeed," he said. "These are all moderate priced
goods. I wonder," turning to Pearson, "if your friend wouldn't like to
see some of our choice pieces. It is a quiet day here, and I shall be
glad to show them."

He led the way to a set of show cases near the door on the Fifth Avenue
side. There before Captain Elisha's dazzled eyes were displayed diamond
necklaces and aigrettes, tiaras and brooches, the figures on their price
tags running high into the thousands. Pearson and the good-natured clerk
enjoyed themselves hugely.

"Jim," said the captain after a little of this, "is there a police
officer lookin' this way?"

Pearson laughed. "I guess not," he answered. "Why? The temptation isn't
getting too much for your honesty, is it?"

"No," with a sigh, "but I'm carryin' a forty dollar watch and wearin' a
ring that cost fifteen. I thought they was some punkins till I begun
to look at this stuff. Now they make me feel so mean and poverty-struck
that I expect to be took up for a tramp any minute. Mister," to the
clerk, "you run right along and wrap up that chain I was lookin' at.
Hurry! or I'll be ashamed to carry anything so cheap."

"Think she'll like it, do you, Jim?" he asked, when they were once more
out of doors with the purchase in his inside pocket.

"She ought, certainly," replied Pearson. "It's a beautiful thing."

"Yes. Well, you see," apologetically, "I wanted to give her somethin'
pretty good. 'Bije always did, and I didn't want to fall too fu