AUBURN — Give that man an “A” for effort.

A would-be robber who tried to hold up the Irving Mainway on Thursday night left empty-handed after the store clerk questioned his methods.

Police said the masked suspect walked into the Center Street store shortly after 8 p.m. and handed a clerk a note demanding money. The clerk, unsure about the customer’s motives, asked the man if he was serious.

Instead of answering, police said, the suspect took off on foot without any cash from the register.

Police said no weapon was displayed.

In spite of the fact that the stick-up attempt failed, police were searching for the suspect to question him about the attempted robbery.

Officers searched the area around the Center Street store, but by 10 p.m. the suspect had not been found.

Police Lt. Tony Harrington said the suspect was described as a white man with glasses who wore a mask over his face. Anyone with information about the attempted heist is asked to call Auburn police at 333-6650.