s.

CHAPTER VII.

CONCLUSION.

The two girls were in the shop next morning when a man came in and
asked to see Mrs. Maple.

"I can serve you," said Marion who thought he looked at the window as
though he wanted to give an order.

"Thank you; I don't doubt your ability, young woman, but I want to see
your mistress."

Marion tossed her head rather disdainfully as she went into the little
back parlour, for she did not like being called "young woman" by this
stranger.

Mrs. Maple came out into the shop, and Marion returned to her work of
dusting, while the stranger said a few words in an undertone to the old
lady.

"What did you say?" she gasped, looking as though she had been shot,
"come in here and tell me, for I'm sure this is a mistake."

"No mistake at all ma'am, for I kept my eye on them all the way from
the theatre," he said.

He had followed Mrs. Maple into the back parlour, and the old lady had
sat down, for she seemed unable to stand after the shock the man's
words had caused her.

"Now tell me all about it," she said, "and I will call them in and ask
them."

"No need to do that, ma'am; at least not just yet. They were both out
until nearly twelve o'clock last night, you admit, and I tell you I
watched them home from the ---- theatre, where they had spent the
evening among a gang of smart young thieves. Three or four of them
were taken, but there are several watches and other valuables still
missing, and I have a warrant to search for these and arrest your two
shop-women."

"What, take them to prison! But I tell you it must be a mistake; the
youngest is a young girl only a few months from the country, and the
other, her cousin, is a thoroughly respectable young woman, who has
been with me nearly a twelvemonth now."

"That may be, ma'am, but still they were there, and with a party of
thieves, too. Will you call them in and let me question them?"

"Well, I will call the younger one first. Kate!" said Mrs. Maple,
opening the door.

"Yes, ma'am," answered Kate readily.

"Come in and tell me where you went last night," said Mrs. Maple. Kate
turned crimson as she looked from the stranger to her mistress. "Now
tell the whole truth about it, Kate. I don't believe what this person
says--that you were in bad company, but where did you go?"

"To the theatre," faltered Kate.

"You did!" exclaimed her mistress; "and who, did you go with?" she
added.

"With--with some friends," said K