ccept money, you know. An officer of the law gets his
satisfaction in clearing up a crime and locating the loot. Until he can
do that his mind is never at peace. This day's stroke has enabled me to
wipe two mysteries that have balked me off my slate and go to bed
to-night with at least that many less on my mind."

He rose.

"Well, Chief, all I can say is that we are very grateful to you,"
declared Mr. Burton.

He would have said more had not the inspector raised his hand with a
forbidding gesture.

"It's all right, sir. I'm fully as glad as you to see your property
safely returned. If you have any thanks to bestow, pass them on to your
son, for without him the missing diamonds might never have been
located."

Then turning toward the boy he added:

"Should you want a job on the force, youngster, come down to
headquarters. A lad who can win the hearts of criminals and coax them
into voluntarily returning their ill-gotten gains would be an immense
asset in our business."

Shaking hands all round and clapping Christopher affectionately on the
shoulder, the chief went out.

"Better put that ring back in the show case, Hollings," concluded Mr.
Burton. "I don't need to caution you to keep an eye on it, I guess."

"You bet you don't!" was the fervent ejaculation. Then Hollings blushed
to the roots of his hair at having thus addressed the great Mr. Burton.

But for once that worthy appeared to forget his dignity and, becoming
human, he laughed like a boy of ten.

CHAPTER XII

CLOCK GIANTS

Gradually the excitement concerning the diamond robbery died away as do
ripples in a pool and once more Christopher found himself settling down
on the little wooden stool at McPhearson's elbow. The two had by this
time become great friends, the boy preferring the companionship of the
little Scotchman to that of any one else in the store. Perhaps this
preference grew in a measure out of the fact that McPhearson appeared to
like him and make more effort to entertain him than did the other
clerks; perhaps also he had discovered that the clockmaker, when he did
speak, was better worth listening to.

Be that as it may, he sallied into the repair department very glad to be
there again.

"I feel as if I hadn't had a clock lesson for ages," observed he, as he
sat down.

"Clock lesson? What do you mean?" The man with the swift-moving hands
shot him a quick, puzzled glance.

"Oh, don't think I am here to steal your trade,