Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/136

122 house Mrs. Inwold occupied. "I know I would."

"Boys do not always know what is best for them," sighed the lady. "Tom generally had his own way, and that made him headstrong. He is my only son, and as his father is away most of the time, I suppose I treated him more indulgently than was good for him."

"You have no idea where he and the jewelry man went?"

"Not the slightest. I notified the police and sent out several detectives, but could learn nothing. The detectives told me that the jewelry man was little better than a thief, and always covered his tracks when he left a city, so that his victims could not trace him up."

"That's most likely true. But I trust you do not take my partner and me for such fellows," added Matt honestly.

"No; you look like a young gentleman, and the other young man was one, too, I feel sure."

"We try to do things on the square. We never willfully misrepresent what we sell—as many do."

"That is right, and if you keep on that way you will be bound to prosper. No one ever yet gained much by resorting to trickery in trying to get along."