ill. Miss Reed was standing close to me, waiting
to ask me a question, while I was attending to my customer. As soon as
he had gone she began to speak about some orders which had not been
properly executed. While I was replying to her, and promising to look
into the matter, a couple of customers came in. Miss Reed began to
attend to them. They bought some ribbons and gloves, and put down a
sovereign to pay for them. She asked me for change, and being in a
hurry at the moment, I told her to go to the till and help herself.
She did so, bringing back the change, and at the same time giving me
the key of the till. I put the key into my pocket, and the usual
business of the morning proceeded. After a time I went to open the
till to take out the contents in order to carry the money to the bank.
I immediately missed the five-pound note. You will see for yourself,
Mrs. Reed, that suspicion could not but point to your granddaughter.
She had seen the whole transaction. To my certain knowledge no one
else could have gone to the till without being noticed. I put the
five-pound note into the till with my own hands. Miss Reed went at my
request to get change for a customer. She locked the till and brought
me the key, and when I next went to it the five-pound note had
disappeared."

"And you think that evidence sufficient to ruin the whole life and
character of a respectable girl?" said Mrs. Reed.

"There is no use in your taking that high tone, madam. The evidence
against Miss Reed was sufficient to make me question her."

"Accuse her, you mean," said Mrs. Reed.

"Accuse her, if you like then, madam, of the theft."

"Which she denied, Mr. Shaw."

"Naturally she would deny it, Mrs. Reed."

"And then you had her searched."

"I was obliged to do so for the credit of the whole establishment, and
the protection of my other workpeople; the affair had to be gone
properly into."

"But you found nothing on her."

"As you say, I found nothing. If Miss Reed took the money she must
have hidden it somewhere else."

"Do you still think she took it?"

"I am inclined to believe she did not, but the puzzle is, who did? for
no one else had the opportunity."

"You may be certain," said Mrs. Reed, "that someone else did have the
opportunity, even without your knowing it. Clever thieves can do that
sort of thing wonderful sharp, I have heard say; but Alison aint that
sort. Now, what do you mean to do to clear my granddau