Bob Chester's Grit; Or, From Ranch to Riches

! What's

Che

ing with that bas

er to one of my gu

you h

is face expressing surprise that

er of the group was entirely different from the others. His clothes were grotesque, and bore every trace of having been purchased in some country store. His derby hat was green-black, and apparently a size too small, judging from the manner in which it

and instinctively he had been attracted by the frankness of the countryman's face. He had been wondering why the two New Yorkers were so interested in the other man, but the unexpected

made his answer that he hoped he was hones

he will d

ht," returned the other, and

ously if you did not deliver you

t make any difference to him how far I have to go, he always thinks I should be back within fifteen minutes after I have starte

New Yorkers, at the same time putting his hand in his pocket and drawing forth a large roll of bills, which he opened ostentatiously. The figur

e possession of one man fairly h

me a whole dollar if I wi

saction in hand, involving fifteen hundred dollars. My friend and I don't happen to have more than five hundred dollars with us, while Mr. Simpkins has seven hundred

med Bob, as though unable to believe his ears. "Why, you

e stopped you. Besides, you wouldn't be able to run away if you wanted t

just for keeping the money unti

act

alf as much as I get

developed. Now we will just put Mr. Simpkins' seven hundred and fifty dollars an

in the envelope, and then asked the countryman for his share. After verifying the a

here, and we will be bac

bout it, he unconsciously threw back his head, and squared his shoulders, proud of

of an hour, the two New Yorkers hastened away, and were

e man so obviously from the country and the bright-eyed, alert boy, closely clasping the envelope in

xchanged; though each, while apparently gazing at

, who had said they were going to the bank for money, and as t

ng them? I don't want

be very angry. I most wish I hadn't said I'd wait. It just shows that Mr. Dardus is right when he says there is no pleasu

roceries, why not give the envelope to me? I'll stay

gave my word that I w

hat the others had placed five hundred dollars in the envelope, and he thought it was a scheme on the part o

hour, without the re-appearance of the two well-dressed New Yorkers, Bob's dread of hi

ight of a policeman standing on the corner about a hundred feet away, a

t policeman and explain the matter to him, and I'll a

up his basket, and led the way to where the guardian o

ched him, the policeman first listened to the excited explanation of t

imed the officer, when Bob stopped speaking. "So you think you are holding some money in that

dismay, the policeman took the envelope from Bob's hand, opened

eman, but further comment was inte

t he had been swindled than he

bbed! They've stolen seven hund

quickly drew the attention of the passersby, and in a trice the victims of

I want my money!"

o what I can for you. I'll take you around to the police station, and you can

among the crowd, various were the

adually recovered from the unpleasant surprise, his one thought was to get away from Simpkins, to deliver his groceries and get back

offering advice chance

standing in with the swindlers. Why

cedure for him to seize some one in connection with the swindle, leaped after Bob, grasped him roughly by the shou

the patrolman both talked at once, while Bob stood

ng with the strangers, eliciting the information that he had met them coming over on the ferry-boat from Jersey City, and

the cities," grunted the sergeant, when the details of the stor

sing along the street just as he was. We may be able to learn from him who the 'con' men are, and where they han

he policeman dragged him towar