He was told that Mr. Chester lived in West Thirty-fifth Street.

"Let us go," said Henry.

Sam followed him out.

"Shall we go up there to-night?" he asked.

"Yes; it is no doubt very valuable, and the sooner we get it into the hands of the owner, the better."

They took the University Place cars, and in a little more than half an hour reached Thirty-fifth Street. They heard the neighboring clocks strike six as they rang the bell.

The door was opened by a colored man.

"Does Mr. Chester live here?" asked Sam.

"Yes," was the reply.

"Can I see him?"

"He's just gone in to dinner."

"I only want to see him a minute."

"Mr. Chester don't like to be disturbed when he's at dinner. You can come round again in an hour."

Sam looked at Henry for advice.

"Tell Mr. Chester," said Henry, "that we have found something belonging to him, and wish to return it to him."

"You haven't found his ring?" said the servant, excited.

"Yes, we have; but we will only deliver it into his hands."

"Come right in. Just stand here in the hall, and I'll tell him."

Presently a pleasant-looking man of middle age came from the dining-room, and looked inquiringly from one to the other.

"Which is the boy that has my ring?" he asked.

"I'm the one," said Sam, promptly.

"Show it to me, if you please."

"You promised a reward of twenty-five dollars," said Sam, with anxiety.

"Certainly. If the ring is mine, you shall have the reward."

Thereupon Sam produced the ring.

Mr. Chester received it with great satisfaction.

"Yes, it is the one," he said. "Where did you find it?"

Sam described the place as well as he could.

"So you saw my advertisement?"

"Yes, sir; a friend of mine read it to me this morning."

"Why didn't you bring it to my office before?"

Sam hesitated, but Henry said, in a low voice: "Tell the truth, Sam."

"The fact is," said he, "I pawned it, and it was some trouble for me to get it again."

"You pawned it! How much did you get on it?"

"Five dollars."

"Five dollars! Why, the ring cost six hundred dollars!"

Henry and Sam looked at each other in blank astonishment. How could that little ring be worth so much?

"I am glad we didn't know how much it was worth," said Henry. "It would have made us feel nervous."

"I am surprised that the pawnbroker gave it back to you at all," said Mr. Chester. "He must have known something of its value."

"He didn't want to give it up. He said it was stolen, and he would call the police."

"What did you say, then?"

"Henry asked him if he thought it was stolen when I brought it to him, and he said yes. Then Henry threatened to have him taken up for receiving stolen goods."

"Good!" said Mr. Chester, laughing. "Your friend would make a good lawyer. At any rate, I am glad I have got it back. Have you had dinner, boys?"

"No, sir," answered Henry.

"Then come in and dine with me. My family are all away except my wife, and there is plenty of room."

"Thank you, sir," said Henry Martin. "We will accept your invitation."

"You can hang your hats up, and follow me."

Sam began to feel bashful, but he obeyed directions, and followed Mr.

Chester into a handsome dining-room in the rear extension, where a lady was already sitting at one end of the table.

"I bring you two guests, Mrs. Chester," said her husband. "These two young gentlemen have brought me my diamond ring."

"You are, indeed, fortunate in recovering it," said his wife. "Young gentlemen, you can sit, one on this side, the other opposite. I think, John, you will have to introduce them by name."