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40 He unlocked the door and marched into the shop without saying a word, and it was not until Franklin began to carry some of the things into the place that he began.

"Drop those things, Bell!" he cried, sharply.

Franklin did so.

"I won't need your services any longer," went on Silas Fells. "If I had a-known what I know now I would never have hired you. I've lost one good customer by it."

"Did Mrs. Mace—" began the youth.

"Yes, she did! She says she ain't got no use to have a boy around like you, and I don't much blame her."

"But I had nothing to do with the robbery," pleaded Franklin.

"Didn't you see the casket open on the chair?" demanded the old man.

"I did, but—"

"Very well, you might have known something was wrong. Women, especially folks like Mrs. Mace, don't leave their diamonds lying around loose. Of course I don't believe you took the rings, and I'm willing to believe your story that Andy Gresson took 'em, but Mrs. Mace sticks to it that you are guilty, and as long as you can't prove different, why I can't keep you to work."

"Then I'm to consider myself discharged?" faltered the young electrician.