Suddenly, the bell above the shop door rang and Constable Bobby Roberts walked in. Will and Jack looked up from their conversation and greeted him pleasantly.
“Will, I think you should come with me,” Constable Roberts stated, “Your son is stuck up in the top of the old oak tree.”
“Oh, not again.” Will shook his head. His oldest child, William Jr., was always climbing trees or playing near the pond. He always seemed to find a way to get himself into trouble. Will put Alaska back down on the ground and walked from behind the counter to follow the Constable. But then he paused and turned to Jack.
“Jack, would you be good enough to watch Alaska and the shop while we are helping Will Jr.? I hope it should only be a few minutes.” Jack nodded, of course he would. Will and Constable Roberts left the shop.

Early the next morning Will walked down the main street towards his shop as he did every morning. He smiled as he felt the warm sun on his shoulders, it was promising to be another fine spring day. He unlocked the door to his shop and walked in. After only a few minutes, he ran out again, almost in a panic.
“Constable!” he called, “Help! I’ve been robbed!” Constable Roberts, who was out for a morning stroll, walked across the street towards Will.
“Now, now, what has happened,” Constable Roberts asked calmly as he followed Will back to his shop.
“It’s the pearl necklace, it has been stolen! I got to work this morning and the glass case that it is supposed to be in is empty!” Will and Constable Roberts entered the shop and Will showed him the empty case. The Constable looked at it and rubbed his chin.
“Hmm,” thought Constable Roberts, “are you sure it was stolen? Could have been accidentally misplaced?”
“Now see here, Constable, I keep a very close eye on my merchandise, I don’t lose things! I never take that necklace out of its case except when. . .” Will stopped, as he remembered the day before.
“It was Jack! He stole the necklace! I took it out of the case for him to look at yesterday. It was still setting on the counter when I left with you to get Will Jr. out of the oak tree. He must have stolen the necklace!”
“Oh, come, come, Mr. Snowfield, Jack Meadows is a very good and hardworking man. Do you really think he would have stolen it?”
“Yes,” Will said firmly, “he was telling me yesterday how he just had to give the pearl necklace to his wife for their anniversary, but he couldn’t afford it.” The Constable scratched his chin again, thinking about Will’s accusation. Just then, Jack Meadows walked into the store.
“There he is! Constable, arrest that thief,” said Will, pointing to Jack. Jack, of course, was very surprised and quite speechless.
“What’s going on?” Jack finally asked.
“Mr. Snowfield’s pearl necklace is missing,” said Constable Roberts. “You didn’t by chance see anything when you were in the store yesterday?”
“No sir,” said Jack, “the necklace was still laying on the counter when Mrs. Snowfield arrived to watch Alaska and the shop and said I could leave. In fact, I came here this morning to buy the pearl necklace. Percy Beagle bought twice as much wheat as I expected, and I finally have enough money to buy it for Maisie. Is it really missing?”
“Yes, because you took it,” said Will. Now Jack was also getting angry.
Just then, little Alaska came running into the store all dressed up in her mother’s old clothes, as usual. Constable Roberts watched her as she ran up to her father. Will nor Jack looked down at her as she tugged at her fathers coat. They were too busy arguing.
“Daddy, Daddy,” little Alaska called.
“Not now, Daddy’s busy,” Will said sharply, without looking down. But Alaska didn’t take no for an answer. She continued to tug at his jacket. Between Will and Jack arguing and Alaska beckoning for her father’s attention, Constable Roberts had to speak loudly to be heard.