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diff --git a/32374.txt b/32374.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..583223f --- /dev/null +++ b/32374.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8238 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Hamilton's Fortune, by Howard R. Garis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dick Hamilton's Fortune + The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son + +Author: Howard R. Garis + +Release Date: May 15, 2010 [EBook #32374] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Verity White and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "THE IDEA OF LEAVING THAT BIG FORTUNE TO A BOY LIKE YOU." + +_Dick Hamilton's Fortune._ (Frontispiece.)] + + + + +DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE + +OR + +THE STIRRING DOINGS OF A MILLIONAIRE'S SON + +BY + +HOWARD R. GARIS + +AUTHOR OF "FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER," "LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER," +"LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH," ETC. + +_ILLUSTRATED_ + +THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING CO. CLEVELAND + +MADE IN U. S. A. + + +Copyright, 1909, by Grosset & Dunlap + +PRESS OF THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. CLEVELAND + + + + +PREFACE + + +My Dear Boys: + +Allow me to introduce to you my friend, Dick Hamilton. + +Dick, here are the boys, thousands of them. + +Boys, here is Dick Hamilton. + +Now I hope you will shake hands and become good friends; not doing as I +have sometimes seen boys do, when introduced, hang back and size each +other up, as if distrusting each other. + +Go right up to Dick, get a good grip on his hand, and squeeze for all +you're worth. I'll wager you can't make him cry "enough!" + +I know he will like you, boys, and I hope you'll like Dick. He's a fine +fellow, if I do say it myself, for I'm a sort of relation to him. He's +got lots of money, but he uses it in the right way, to help his friends, +and it doesn't keep him from getting into trouble. + +I have endeavored to give you a story of Dick and his fortune; how he +tried to fulfil the strange condition of his mother's will; how he +escaped the toils of the sharper, was the target for many cranks, as +well as well-meaning persons; how he aided the "fresh-air kids," and, +finally, when the gold mines had failed, how he worked hard to escape +the clutches of his uncle Ezra. + +As you have taken kindly to some of the other books I have been +privileged to write for you, I hope you will like this one; and now, if +you have read thus far, you may turn the pages and find out what Dick +had to do in order to retain his millions. + +Yours sincerely, + +Howard R. Garis. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. Dick is in a Hurry 1 + II. A Strange Will 12 + III. Uncle Ezra Threatens 20 + IV. Dick Becomes Celebrated 34 + V. Dick Aids Henry 44 + VI. A Trip to New York 50 + VII. A Sharper Foiled 59 + VIII. Dick and the Reporter 69 + IX. A Circus Comes to Town 79 + X. Dick Invests in Happiness 85 + XI. Hank Darby in Business 96 + XII. Gold Mine Stock 105 + XIII. Dick's Brave Act 114 + XIV. Dick Gives a Party 125 + XV. The Conspiracy 135 + XVI. Dick Turns Detective 141 + XVII. Grit's Revenge 150 + XVIII. Uncle Ezra's Visit 156 + XIX. The Fresh-Air Youngsters 164 + XX. Tim's Disclosure 173 + XXI. In Which Mr. Vanderhoof Vanishes 183 + XXII. Off for the West 189 + XXIII. At the Mines 197 + XXIV. A Night Trip 205 + XXV. Down in a Gold Mine 215 + XXVI. Simon's Confession 223 + XXVII. The Panic 232 + XXVIII. Henry in Trouble 242 + XXIX. The Flying Machine 249 + XXX. A Disastrous Flight 256 + XXXI. Good News--Conclusion 264 + + + + +DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DICK IS IN A HURRY + + +"Here comes Dick Hamilton!" exclaimed a flashily-dressed youth to his +companion, no less gaily attired, as the two stood in front of a +building from which sounded a peculiar clicking noise. + +"So it is, Guy," was the answer. "Let's get him into a game. Maybe I can +win a little money. I need it, for I'm nearly dead broke." + +"I thought you always had all the cash you wanted, Simon," remarked Guy +Fletcher, with something like a sneer in his voice. "I know I loaned you +some the other day." + +"Do you think that lasted until now?" inquired Simon Scardale, glancing +down at his patent leather shoes. "I'm short of ready money now, and if +we can get your friend Hamilton into a game of billiards I think I can +beat him." + +"He's no friend of mine," returned Guy, with a short laugh. "He isn't my +kind, even if his father is a millionaire." + +"That's the main reason why you ought to cultivate his acquaintance," +returned Simon. "It pays to keep in with such fellows. But here he is. +Let me do the talking. You needn't play if you don't want to." + +The two boys, who in spite of their fine clothes, did not have an air of +good breeding, watched the approach of Dick Hamilton as he sauntered +down the main street of the town that pleasant afternoon late in June. + +Dick was a boy a little above the average height, well built, with +curling brown hair and eyes of the same hue. The eyes were bright and +clear, and, when he looked at you they seemed to glint like moss agates, +as some of his friends used to say. + +"And you ought to see them when he's excited," one of Dick's +acquaintances once remarked. "His eyes sparkle and seem to look right +through you." + +It needed but a glance to see that Dick was well dressed, with that +careless air of studied negligence which so marks the person accustomed +to fine raiment. Dick wore his garments as if he was "used to them and +not dressed up," as Fred Murdock remarked. There was that about him +which at once proclaimed him for what he was--the son of a very wealthy +man, for his father, Mortimer Hamilton, counted his fortune in the +millions. + +As Dick came opposite the place whence issued that peculiar sound, +produced by ivory balls hitting against one another, he was hailed by +Simon Scardale. + +"I say, Dick, come in and have a little game of billiards?" + +Dick paused and looked at the speaker with a quizzical glance. + +"Who's going to play?" he asked. + +"Why--er--I--am--for one," replied Simon. "And maybe Guy, here, will take +a cue. I'll bet I can beat you, and I'll give you twenty-five points to +start with. I'll bet you ten dollars----" + +"No, thanks," answered Dick, in rather languid tones, but the sparkle in +his brown eyes showed there was more spirit in the words than at first +might be apparent. "I don't believe I care to play." + +"Afraid I'll beat you!" exclaimed Simon, with a sneer. + +"You were very far from doing that the last time you played at my +house," retorted Dick, quickly. + +"Oh, well, that--er--that was on a table you were used to, and----" + +"He's worried about losing the money!" interrupted Guy Fletcher. "Come +on, Simon, I'll play you. I'm not afraid of ten dollars, even if my +father isn't quite as wealthy as his." + +As a matter of fact Guy's father was very far from being as well off as +Mr. Hamilton, but Guy took upon himself as much importance, and gave +himself as many airs, as though his parent was a multi-millionaire. + +"Hold on!" exclaimed Dick sharply, straightening up and thrusting his +hands in the pockets of his well-fitting coat. "Now don't you fellows +get any wrong notions into your heads. Go a little slow. You asked me to +come into a public billiard-room and play a game with you. I----" + +"Yes, and you refused because you're afraid!" retorted Guy. + +"That's where you're wrong," replied Dick coolly. "I refused because, in +the first place, I don't play billiards in a public resort like this. I +like the game, but I have a fine table at home, and I see no reason why +I should waste my time hanging around in a place that's thick with +tobacco smoke, and where the language isn't the most polite, not to put +it too strong. Besides, the tables are in such poor condition that----" + +"Oh, so you've turned Miss Nancy!" exclaimed Simon, with a mean smirk. + +"If you think so just come up to my gymnasium and put on the boxing +gloves with me," invited Dick with a meaning smile; but Simon knew +better than to accept. He had once boxed a friendly round with Dick and +had been sore for a week afterward, for Simon was "soft." + +"Another reason," continued Dick, "is that I never gamble, whether it's +over a game of billiards or something else. I don't believe it's right. +It isn't a question of money at all. In fact, if you need a little +cash, I don't mind lending it to you. But I'll not gamble for it. + +"However," went on the wealthy youth, "don't let me stand in the way of +you two having a good time. 'Every one to their notion,' as the old lady +said when she kissed the cow," and Dick laughed. + +"What's the cow got to do with it?" inquired Simon, who did not see the +point of Dick's joke. + +"Afraid," murmured Guy, but so low that Dick did not hear him. + +"The cow," retorted Dick, with a glance at Simon, "is a second cousin to +the one that jumped over the moon. But, aside from all this," he +continued, more seriously, "if I did feel like playing billiards with +you in there, I couldn't do it this afternoon, for I promised my father +I'd be home early. He has an appointment with me--a very important +one--and I'm in a hurry to keep it." + +"Didn't look so, by the way you were walking along the street a moment +ago," sneered Simon. + +"I was just looking at some new fishing tackle in White's window," +answered Dick. "I have my horse tied in front of the post-office, and I +guess you know he goes fast enough to take me home in a hurry. Now I +think I'll say ta-ta, and get along. Try to work some one else into your +billiard game," and, with a nod that had in it not the least sign of +displeasure, in spite of his firm words, Dick turned and walked off. + +"Well, if he ain't the limit!" ejaculated Guy. "He makes me tired. Come +on in, I'll play you a game; but not for ten dollars. Dad growled the +other day because I asked him for money, and I've got to go slow." + +"I wish I'd taken him at his word and borrowed about twenty-five dollars +from him," remarked Simon, as he followed Guy into the billiard-room. + +Meanwhile Dick had reached the post-office, where his horse, a handsome +bay of fine spirit, but gentle disposition, was waiting him. The animal +whinnied with pleasure as the lad came up, and when he patted the black +muzzle, the horse showed every evidence of delight. + +"I wonder if they think I can't get home in a hurry on you, Rex?" asked +Dick, as he loosened the strap and vaulted into the saddle. "Come on, +now, show 'em how you can go!" + +The splendid animal was off like a shot, many persons in the street +turning to look at the pleasing picture the well-built youth made on his +handsome steed. Past the billiard parlor Dick rode at a fast pace, and +several youths inside hurried to the door. + +"There he goes," remarked Simon, with a sneer. "I'd like to take some of +the starch out of him." + +"Who?" inquired another player, chalking his cue. + +"Dick Hamilton." + +"He hasn't any starch in him," was the answer. "He's one of the best +fellows in the world. One of the very few who has not been spoiled by +their father's wealth. You don't know Dick Hamilton, or you wouldn't say +he's stiff or proud." + +"We don't want to know him," put in Guy. + +"Well, I'd be proud to," went on the player at the next table. "He isn't +in my class, or, rather, I'm not in his, but he always bows pleasantly +and speaks to me every time we meet. He's a real sport, he is. None of +your tin-horn variety." + +Through the main street of the town Dick rode, waving his hand now and +then to acquaintances who saluted him. To some he called out cheery +words of greeting, and to several elderly men he bowed respectfully. + +As Dick turned out of the main thoroughfare into one that led to the +handsome mansion where he and his father lived, he came in sight of a +spectacle that made him pause. It was a rattletrap of a wagon, drawn by +a horse that seemed as much in danger of falling apart as did the +vehicle. In the wagon was a miscellaneous collection of scrap iron, +broken pipes, pieces of stoves, fractured pulleys and bent shafting +mingling in a confused mass. On the seat sat a pleasant-faced, +bright-looking youth, about Dick's age, and nearly of his size. + +"Hello, Henry!" called Dick. "What in the world have you got there?" + +"Scrap iron, scrap wagon and a scrap horse," replied Henry Darby, with a +grin. + +"What are you doing?" + +"Well, I'm in a sort of new venture," was the answer. "I'm collecting +old iron, wherever I can find it, and selling it again. I bought up a +lot out in the country, and I hired this rig to get it back to town +with; only I'm afraid I'm not going to arrive." + +"What's the matter?" + +"Why, this horse--if you can call such an animal a dignified name like +that--has the heaves, a spavin, spring-halt, blind-staggers, and a few +other things. It got tired a few minutes ago, and went on a strike. I'm +afraid to do anything to it to make it go for fear it'll fall apart +right here in the road." + +Dick, who had brought his steed to a stop, laughed heartily. + +"Well, you are in a fix," he said. "But I don't understand about this +old iron business." + +"I've got to do something to make a living," answered Henry Darby, who +seemed confused about something. "I have been doing it on a small scale +for quite a while. Now I'm trying to branch out a bit. There's money in +old iron, if I could sell enough of it. But I don't see how I'm going to +get this load home. You might lend me your horse," he added with a +laugh; for in spite of the poverty of Henry Darby, and the wealth of +Dick Hamilton, the two boys were good friends. + +"I'm sorry I can't do that, Henry," said Dick; and his voice showed that +he was sincere. "The fact is, I'm in a hurry to get home. When I went +out this morning father told me to be sure to be in at three o'clock, as +he had something important to tell me." + +"Maybe he's going to reduce your allowance," suggested Henry, with a +laugh. + +"No, I can't imagine what it is," and Dick spoke soberly "But that it's +important I know by the way he acted. Otherwise I'd lend you my horse to +pull that load back with. I'll tell you what I'll do, however. As soon +as I get home I'll send one of the grooms out here with one of the work +horses. They'll think that load is a feather. But now I am in a hurry, +so I must gallop on. It won't do to keep dad waiting, especially when he +laid so much stress on my being home on time." + +"Oh, don't trouble about a horse. I guess I can get this--this animal to +go after a while," and Henry laughed; for he was of a happy disposition, +and trouble rolled away from him "like water off a duck's back," as he +used to say. + +"But it's no trouble at all," insisted Dick. "You wait here and I'll +send a man back with a horse. You can drive him home to-morrow, or +to-night, if you like." + +"All right. It's very kind of you," said Henry, but Dick did not stay to +listen to the thanks before he had called to Rex, under whose flying +feet the dust of the road arose in a cloud. + +"He must be in a hurry to ride like that," thought Henry, as he tried to +lead on his apology for a horse. "I wonder what it is that his father is +going to tell him? It must be about money I guess, for Mr. Hamilton has +so much he doesn't know what to do with all of it." + +Dick was also wondering, as he galloped along, what the important matter +might be that his parent was to speak to him about. He only had a hint +of it in what Mr. Hamilton had said that morning. + +"This is your birthday," Dick's father had remarked, when he and his son +were at breakfast in the Hamilton mansion. "I wish you many happy +returns, and I will add that I have something very important to say to +you this afternoon--something that may have a great influence on your +future life. I will meet you here in the library at three o'clock, and +communicate to you certain portions of your dear mother's will." + +For a moment emotion had overcame Mr. Hamilton, for his wife, of whom he +had been devotedly fond, though dead some years, was ever a living +memory to him. Dick's eyes filled with tears as he recalled the +sweet-faced woman to whom he had lisped "mother," for he was only a +small chap when she died. + +"So, if you will be here on time, Dick," his father finally went on, "I +will read to you an important document, in accordance with your +mother's final instructions. Now don't be late. I am a busy man, and if +I make an appointment for a certain time, I like the other fellow to be +there also," and he smiled at his son. + +"I'll be there, father," promised Dick. + +So now he was hurrying on to keep his appointment. His home was about +two miles from the town of Hamilton Corners, in one of our eastern +states, the place having been named in honor of Mr. Hamilton, who, as +will be told later, was at the head of many industries that gave the +town its importance. + +"I wonder what it can all be about?" mused Dick, as he turned his horse +into the driveway that led to the mansion. + +In a vague way he knew that his mother had been very wealthy in her own +right; almost as wealthy as Mr. Hamilton, who was many times a +millionaire. But Dick had no idea of the provisions of his mother's +will. He had often heard his father speak of what a wise and far-seeing +woman Mrs. Hamilton was; but Dick, who was a healthy, happy youth, fond +of all kinds of sports, had not up to this time given much thought to +the future. + +Now, to-day, he was to be given a glimpse into it, and he was not a +little sobered by the thoughts of the coming interview. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A STRANGE WILL + + +"Well, I'm glad to see you are on time, Dick," said Mr. Hamilton, as his +son, having left Rex at the stables, and sent one of the grooms on a +horse to the aid of Henry, entered the handsome library. "Right to the +minute. That is what I like to see. It speaks well for what we have in +hand." + +Dick had never known his father to be quite so solemn save on one former +occasion, and that was the dreadful day when the house was dark and in +confusion, followed by a strange stillness, and then his loving mother +was seen no more. She had gone away--somewhere--he did not understand +where until long afterward, and it now made him a little sad to recall +the scene. + +But his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden rush of feet, and a big +bulldog, with fore legs arched almost grotesquely, and with two big +teeth showing from under the upper lip, leaped joyously upon him. + +"Grit, old boy!" exclaimed Dick, as he caressed the brute, handsome in +its very ugliness, a dog, the look of which impressed strangers with +fear as to its temper, but which, to all friends, was as gentle as a +kitten. It was a fine specimen of the bulldog, of good stock and very +valuable. + +"My son," began Mr. Hamilton, as he drew from his pocket a folded paper, +"I asked you to meet me here to-day to listen to some of the provisions +of your dear, departed mother's will. I have a copy of it, the original +being on file at the court house according to law. Soon after you were +born she had it drawn up, and, having told me the nature of it, asked if +I was satisfied. I told her I was, absolutely. + +"You may have heard, in a general way, that your mother was very wealthy +in her own right. She was, more so than you have any idea of, perhaps. +It is not necessary to go into figures now, but sufficient to say that +her fortune was a very large one, and that it can be counted in the +millions. Part of it was left her by her father, and the rest +accumulated through wise investments. + +"In fact, your mother was a great believer in wise and paying +investments, as you will see. She was worried lest her only son, when he +grew up, would not appreciate the value of money; nor understand how +much good can be done with it. + +"Therefore, in order to make sure that you would not do as so many rich +youths have done--wasted the wealth left to them--she has seen fit to +make certain provisions and restrictions. You are to inherit her great +wealth--if you fulfill these conditions." + +"What are they?" asked Dick, who was not a little impressed by what his +father had said. "Down, Grit, down," he commanded gently, for the dog +was trying to clamber all over its master, so glad was it to see Dick. +"Down, Grit," and the noble animal obeyed, crouching at the youth's +feet, but ever keeping a watchful eye on his face, ready to begin the +demonstration again at the first sign of encouragement. + +"You are to inherit your mother's wealth on this condition, among +others," went on Mr. Hamilton. "Beginning with this, your birthday, +which is the time she set, you are to be supplied with a large amount of +cash. You are to be allowed to spend it as you please, when you please, +and for what you please, subject, of course, to certain common-sense +restrictions, of which I am to be the judge." + +"Does that mean I'll have all the money I want to spend just as I +please?" asked Dick joyfully. + +"Practically so. But here is the restriction: You are required to make, +within one year from date, one wise and paying investment with some of +the money you spend. It may be a large one or it may be a small one, but +at the end of the year it must show a respectable profit." + +"And if it doesn't?" + +"Then you will lose considerable," went on Mr. Hamilton. "In the event +of your failure to make such an investment within twelve months your +mother's fortune will be tied up so that you can not touch it, or derive +any benefit from it, for a certain period, which will be disclosed +later." + +"Does that mean I will have to be--be poor?" + +"Well, not exactly poor, but you will have to put up with a good deal +less than you have now. You see, your mother's idea was to have you +avoid the pitfalls and snares into which fall many wealthy youths with +millionaire parents. She wanted to make you appreciate the value of +money, to know how to spend it, and to learn, above everything else, +that money begets money. + +"That is why she made such a peculiar will, and, I think, she did +wisely. So, for a year, at least, you are to live as do other +millionaires' sons who are older. In fact, you are to have more money to +spend than you ever had before, for, though I have been liberal with +you, I wanted you to have something still better to look forward to. So, +now, your fortune is your own to make. + +"If you devote some of the money you are to have to a wise and paying +investment, you will, comparatively soon, come into possession of your +mother's vast wealth, though, of course, the executors of the will, of +whom I am one, are to have certain control over you. You have twelve +months from to-day in which to make your try, Dick, my boy." + +"A year to make money out of money. But how, father? I have no knowledge +of business." + +"That is just it. You must gain some knowledge of business or you will +never be able to take care of your fortune. That is one reason your +mother made such a will. I need not say I hope you will be successful. I +shall aid you all I can, but I would rather you relied on yourself. I +had to do it when I was your age, and I see no reason why you should not +take some responsibility." + +"Are these all the restrictions?" asked Dick, his mind somewhat confused +by the sudden news. + +"No, not all. There are a number of provisions of the will, governing +your future life, aside from the matter of the investment. I will not +read them to you now, but as soon as the occasion arises you will be +made acquainted with them." + +"And can I start in and have the money at once? I know a lot of things I +want." Dick was walking about excitedly. He had visions of a big +automobile and a fine motor boat, two things his father, up to the +present, had not allowed him to own. + +"One of the provisions of the will," went on Mr. Hamilton, "is that on +this date there is to be placed a large sum to your credit in the local +national bank, of which you know I am president. You will be given a +check book and allowed to draw upon it as you please, subject, as I said +before, to certain reasonable restrictions on my part." + +"Where is the check book?" asked Dick. "I've always wanted to have one." + +"Not so fast," continued his father, with a smile. "You must first go to +the bank and be identified by the proper officials, and also leave your +signature there. Then you shall have the check book, Dick. But there is +another matter," and Mr. Hamilton turned to the second page of the +document in his hand. + +Dick's heart sank. Perhaps, after all, he was not to have the wealth +with which his imagination was already building fairy castles in the +air. + +"In case you fail to make this paying investment," went on Mr. Hamilton, +"not only do you lose control of the money for a long time, but you have +to undergo a sort of penance. It is this. You will have to go and live +with your Uncle Ezra Larabee at Dankville----" + +"Uncle Ezra!" exclaimed Dick, and his face fell. + +"Yes, your Uncle Ezra and Aunt Samanthy. You will have to remain in +their charge for a certain period and attend any boarding school they +may select for you. That is done to teach you the value of money, and I +think, from what I know of your Uncle Ezra, it will be a good place to +learn," and Mr. Hamilton smiled rather grimly. + +"In order that you may fully appreciate the situation, your mother has +provided," proceeded Dick's father, "that you are to spend a week with +your Uncle Ezra, beginning to-morrow. Her idea was that you should get +better acquainted with her only brother, who, as you may have heard, is +quite well off, and one of the wisest men in the matter of money I ever +met. He is very conservative about investments, but he makes them pay. +Your dear mother thought it would be a good school for you, and I have +no doubt but what you will see that for yourself if you spend a week +with him. If you should not be able, in the year, to make the paying +investment, you will, of course, pass under the control of Mr. Larabee. + +"I think I have now told you enough for the present. As I said, there +are other provisions in the will regarding you, but we can discuss them +when the time comes. I have written to your uncle, and he expects you +to-morrow. + +"Now, Dick, my son, having gotten this somewhat sad business over--for +it makes me sad to recall your dear mother, and the careful way she made +provision that you should grow up to be a wise and good man--I think we +will have a little lunch. I am hungry and I think you are, so I arranged +a little birthday dinner for you." + +Mr. Hamilton led the way to the large dining room, where, upon the +mahogany table, cut glass and silver sparkled in profusion. There were +places for two and, as soon as father and son entered, a solemn butler +rang a chiming bell, and servants brought in a dainty but bountiful +meal. + +"Roast duck!" exclaimed Dick, as he caught sight of it. "That's like +you, dad, to remember how fond I am of it. And I'll bet he's ordered +frozen pudding for dessert; hasn't he, Mary?" turning to the smiling +maid who was arranging some dishes on the sideboard. + +"That he has, Master Dick," was the reply. + +"Well, I thought I'd give you a good meal before you went to Uncle +Ezra's house," said Mr. Hamilton, with a queer smile. "You may not +get--But there, Dick, I wish you all the luck in the world, and may we +both be as happy on your next birthday," and Mr. Hamilton stood up and +gravely shook hands with his son. + +"Um," murmured Dick. "Maybe I'll be at Uncle Ezra's a year from now--if +I don't make that paying investment. I wonder what sort of a place he +has, anyhow? Well, there's no use worrying now. I must take some of that +roast duck while it's hot," and he began to investigate his well-filled +plate with no little interest. + +"You leave for your uncle's on the eight o'clock train to-morrow +morning," said Mr. Hamilton. "Have your things all packed to-night, +and don't be late, for your uncle is a very particular +man--a--very--particular--man," and again that grim smile came over Mr. +Hamilton's face; a smile which puzzled Dick. But he was to know the +meaning of it soon enough. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +UNCLE EZRA THREATENS + + +Dick had not paid a visit to his Uncle Ezra since he could remember. He +dimly recalled being there when a small boy, and had a hazy memory of a +fine big house, but very gloomy, standing in the midst of large grounds +that seemed more like a cemetery than anything else. Of his uncle and +aunt he had but a faint recollection, and when he stood on the depot +platform the next morning, waiting for his train, he was in no very +happy frame of mind. + +For Dick liked fun, and jolly companions, and did not relish being sent +off to visit relatives who were almost strangers to him, even though Mr. +Larabee was his mother's only brother. + +"I don't fancy I'm going to have a very good time," mused the youth, as +the train was whizzing him along toward Dankville. "Still, I'm going to +fulfill the conditions of the will as far as I can. Make a paying +investment, eh? I wonder if I can do it? But, of course, I can. I'll buy +some building lots, stocks or bonds, and sell 'em at a profit. I'll do +it as soon as I get home, and then I'll not have to worry about the +matter any more," he added lightly, as if making money was the easiest +thing in the world. + +Dankville was a country village about a hundred miles from Hamilton +Corners. When Dick alighted at the station he looked around in some +surprise. The place seemed to be absolutely deserted. There was no one +in sight but the station agent, and, as soon as the train pulled out, he +disappeared into his office. + +"Not a very pleasant reception," mused Dick, as he sat down on the +upturned end of his dress-suit case. "Not exactly a brass band out to +meet me. I wonder how I get to Uncle Ezra's place? Guess I'll ask the +man." + +He started toward the ticket office, but, as he approached it, he saw a +carriage driving up to the platform. In the vehicle sat an elderly man +with a little tuft of white chin whiskers, which moved to and fro in a +curious manner every time he spoke to the horse, which was frequently +necessary, as the animal seemed to need much urging to induce it to +continue its journey. + +"Whoa!" exclaimed the man, though there was no occasion for the command, +as the horse was glad enough to stop. "Are you Richard Hamilton, son of +Mortimer Hamilton?" + +"I'm Dick. Are you Uncle Ezra?" + +"Dick!" fairly snorted the elderly man. "You're Richard, that's what you +were christened and that's what you must be called! I can't abide +nicknames and I won't have 'em. You're Richard, do you hear?" + +"Yes, sir," answered Dick, meekly enough, though there was an angry +light in his eyes. + +"Now, then, Richard, you've come to visit us for a certain purpose," +went on his uncle. "What it is we needn't discuss now. The train was a +little ahead of time or I'd been here sooner." Mr. Larabee did not seem +to think that he might be a little late. "I always make it a point to be +on time," he added. "Now, jump in. Your aunt has a meal ready and she +musn't be kept waiting. I want you to understand from the start that +everything is done on time in my house. We rise at a certain hour, and +we have our meals at certain hours. Folks that come to see us have to do +as we do or they don't get any meals. I hope you understand that." + +"Yes, sir," replied Dick, his heart sinking down deeper than ever. It +was worse than he had thought. Still the idea of a meal, after his long +ride, seemed good. + +Mr. Larabee's fine country home was considered one of the best places in +that part of the state. There was not a crooked fence on it, the gravel +walks were as trim as though no one had ever stepped on their surface, +and the grass was always cut to a certain length. The house was always +painted at a certain time of the year, as were also the barns, and the +place looked almost like a picture in a book. + +In fact, Mr. Larabee's neighbors used to say he never took any pleasure +in it, as he was always so busy looking to see if a stick or a stone had +not become misplaced, or if the paint on the house or barn was not +chipping off. + +"So this is Nephew Richard, is it?" asked a small, prim, rather +thin-faced woman, as she came to the door when the carriage containing +Dick and his uncle drove up the path. "I'm glad to see you, Nephew +Richard," she went on, extending a cold and clammy hand, and giving Dick +a little peck that seemed more like a nip from a bird than a kiss. + +"Is dinner ready?" asked Mr. Larabee. + +"You know it is, Ezra," replied his wife. "I'll serve it as soon as you +put the horse up. Come in, Nephew Richard, but be sure and wipe your +feet." + +She watched Dick while he scraped off an invisible quantity of dust from +his shoes that had scarcely touched the ground that morning. After +giving them what he thought was a good polishing on the mat, he started +to enter the front hall. + +"Wait!" almost screamed his aunt. "There's a little mud on that left +heel!" + +Dick obligingly gave it another scrape on the mat and started in. + +"One moment, Nephew Richard," said Mrs. Larabee, in almost imploring +accents. "Let me wipe your satchel off before you go in. I'm afraid +it's dusty from the drive, and I can't bear dust in my house." + +She kept Dick waiting on the front steps while she went in and got a +cloth, with which she carefully wiped off the dress-suit case, though +Dick did not see how there could be any dust on it, as it had been +covered with the lap robe all the way. + +"Now you may come in," Aunt Samantha said, as graciously as was +possible. "Welcome to The Firs. We call our place The Firs," she went +on, "because there are so many fir trees around it. It makes it dark and +keeps the flies out." + +It certainly made it dark, for as Dick entered the hall he could hardly +see, and had to proceed by the sense of feeling. + +"We never open this part of the house, except for company," Mrs. Larabee +went on. "Ezra and I use the back door, as it saves wear and tear. Now, +if you'll come with me, I'll show you to your room and you can take off +your good clothes and put on a rough suit." + +"I haven't any rougher suit than this," said Dick, looking at the +garments he wore. "I've got another suit in the case, but it's newer +than this." + +"Mercy, child!" exclaimed his aunt. "Would you wear such clothes around +every day?" + +"I always have," replied Dick simply. + +"Well, I never heard tell the like of that! What does your father--but, +there, I forgot. I know Mortimer Hamilton. He doesn't care how he +throws money away!" + +"My father never throws money away!" exclaimed Dick, always ready to +champion his parent. "He thinks it pays to buy good clothes, as they +wear better than cheap ones." + +"Such wastefulness," sighed the aunt, as she led the way upstairs. "But +it's no use talking. However, if you come to live here----" + +She did not finish the sentence, but Dick registered a mental vow that +it would be a long day before he would voluntarily come to live at The +Firs. + +He was shown into a small room, plainly furnished, containing a small +cot bed. + +"As you are only to stay a week, I thought it would make less work for +me if you had this room," said Mrs. Larabee. "It used to be the +servant's, but I don't keep any now. They are too expensive. Now be very +careful. Always take your shoes off when you come upstairs, as I can't +be always cleaning and dusting. Don't throw your things around, and keep +the shutters closed so the flies won't get in. When you are ready come +down to dinner." + +"Well, if this doesn't get me!" exclaimed Dick, when his aunt had left +him alone and he had dropped down on the edge of the cot. "This +certainly is the limit. If I didn't know differently I'd say Uncle Ezra +had lost all his money. I guess he's got it salted down and hates to +take it out of the brine. Well, I'll see what they have for dinner +before I make up my mind any further." + +The meal, though plain, was good, and to a boy with Dick's appetite, +nothing came amiss. But it was small pleasure to dine when two pair of +eyes were almost constantly watching him. + +"Don't get any of the gravy on the table cloth," cautioned Mrs. Larabee. +"It was clean this week, and I don't want to have to put another one on +before Sunday." + +Dick felt a guilty flush come over his face as he saw that he had +dropped a small piece of butter on the cloth. But he thought it wisest +to say nothing. + +"Aren't you going to eat that crust of bread?" asked his uncle, as Dick +laid aside a portion that was burned black. + +"It's a little too--too brown," replied the boy, who did not fancy +burned bread. + +"That makes it all the better," said Mr. Larabee. "Bread should be well +cooked to be digestible. Always eat your crusts. 'Sinful waste makes +woeful want,' as the proverb says. I had to eat my crusts when I was +young." + +Dick managed to get it down, and the meal finally came to a close. He +felt considerably better after it, and when his uncle proposed a walk +around the place, he was ready to accompany Mr. Larabee. + +Dick found much to admire in the well-kept grounds. Several men were at +work, and the manner in which they hastened with their tasks when their +employer approached spoke volumes for the way in which they regarded +him. + +Dick paused in the stable to admire the horses, of which his uncle kept +several. Without thinking he pulled a wisp of hay from a bale and +offered it to one of the animals. + +"Don't do that!" exclaimed his uncle sharply. "You'll scatter it all +over the barn. The man has just swept the place up, and I don't like a +litter of dirt around." + +He stopped to pick up some pieces of hay Dick had inadvertently dropped, +and looked so cross that the boy wished he had kept out of the stable. + +However, Mr. Larabee seemed a bit ashamed of himself a little later, for +he showed Dick where he could find some withered apples to feed to the +pigs. + +"Only don't scatter 'em on the ground," he cautioned. "I hate to see +apples thrown about. I keep a man to look after the orchard, and I like +it nice and tidy." + +Now Dick was not a careless youth, but he thought this was carrying +things a little too far. However, he brightened up a bit when his uncle +announced that he had to leave his nephew to his own devices for a time, +as he had some duties to attend to. + +Dick managed to while away the afternoon looking at the sights around +the place, for his uncle had a large farm, though he was wealthy enough +not to need the income from it. Still he was the kind of a man who can +not own the smallest bit of land without putting it to some use. + +Dick looked about for a sight of some lads of his own age with whom he +might become acquainted and enjoy his enforced visit to Dankville, but +boys seemed a scarce article around The Firs. + +He strolled back to the house, and, not seeing his aunt about, and being +desirous of exploring the rather stately mansion, he started on a tour +of it. Through the darkened hall he went until he came to what he +thought would be the parlor. He opened the door, though it creaked on +rusty hinges. + +The room was so dark he could see nothing, and, having heard his father +say that there were some choice oil paintings at The Firs, he opened a +window to get light enough to view them. He had a hard task, as it +seemed the sash and shutters had not been moved since they were built, +but finally a stream of light entered the gloomy apartment, with the +horse-hair furniture arranged stiffly against the wall. + +Dick caught sight of a large painting and was going closer to examine it +when he heard a shriek in the open doorway. + +"Mercy sakes, Richard! Whatever have you done?" he heard his aunt call. + +"Why, I just opened a window to let some light in, so I could see the +pictures," he answered. + +"Light? In this room? Why, Richard Hamilton! This room hasn't been +opened in years! We never think of letting light in the parlor. The +carpet might fade. Oh, Richard, I am so sorry! If I thought you would +have opened a window I would have locked the door. Shut it and come out +at once! Mercy sakes!" + +Much abashed, Dick closed the shutters and window and walked out. His +aunt ran and got a broom, with which she brushed the carpet where he had +stepped, though how she could see any dust in that gloom was more than +the boy could understand. + +"Never, never go in there again," cautioned his aunt. "We never open +that room except--for funerals." + +"I guess that's all it's good for," thought Dick. + +He sat around, very miserable, the remainder of the afternoon, and had +little appetite for supper, which was rather a scant meal; some +preserves, bread and weak tea making up the repast. + +"I think I'll take a stroll to the village," remarked the youth, as he +arose from the table. + +"Where?" asked his aunt, as if she had not heard aright. + +"To the village. I'd like to see what's going on." + +"There's nothing going on," replied his uncle. "The village is five +miles from here. Besides, we go to bed early, and I don't allow any one +in my house, visitor or otherwise, to come in with a latch key. You'd +better stay here, read some good book to improve your mind, and retire +early. That's what I do, and I find it pays." + +Dick groaned. He now knew the meaning of his father's queer smile. + +"Then I'll walk around outside the house for a while to get some air," +proposed Dick. + +"I'd rather you wouldn't," came from Mr. Larabee, as he squirmed +uneasily in his chair. "The gravel walks have just been raked smooth, +and I hate to have 'em disturbed." + +Dick did not answer, but sat in his chair silently, while his aunt +cleared off the supper table. When the lamps were lighted, which was not +done until it was quite dark, Mr. Larabee handed Dick a book. The boy +hoped it might be some tale of adventures that would help pass away the +hours, but on looking at the title he saw it was "Pilgrim's Progress." + +"I guess I'll go to bed," he announced, and his aunt and uncle gave an +audible sigh of relief. + +The next morning Dick, without saying anything to Mr. or Mrs. Larabee, +walked to the railroad station. There he sent a telegram to his father. +It read: + + "Dear Dad. This place is fierce. Can't I come home? Wire me + quick." + +He said he would wait at the station for an answer, and he was a little +sorry when it came, as it meant he would have to go back to the dismal +house. His father's reply was: + + "Dear Dick. To fulfill the conditions you must remain a week. + Do the best you can and let it be a lesson to you." + +"Be a lesson to me?" mused Dick. "Oh, I see! He means I must make that +investment so I won't have to come here and live." + +On his return Dick entered the house at the rear door, pausing +momentarily to wipe his feet. But his aunt was watching for him. + +"Richard," she said severely. "They're not half clean. I can see dirt on +them." + +"Oh," he began, but he kept silent, and, instead of entering, turned +into the orchard. There, at least, he would not be corrected. His uncle +found him there a little later, as Dick was sitting idly under a tree. + +"Haven't you anything to occupy yourself with?" asked Mr. Larabee +severely. + +"No," answered Dick. "There's no one to get up a baseball game with +around here, as far as I can see." + +"Boys shouldn't always be playing," commented Mr. Larabee. "You should +labor to improve your mind. Why don't you read that book I gave you last +night?" + +"I don't care for it." + +"That's the way with the rising generation. Frivolous! frivolous!" + +"School has closed for the term," said Dick. "I'm done with studying, +and that book looked as if it was to be studied." + +"It was," replied his uncle. "It merits being well studied. But it's +what I expected of you. It's the way that you have been brought up." + +"I guess my father brought me up in the way he thought best," fired back +Dick. + +"Well, his way is very different from mine--very different," and Mr. +Larabee shook his head as though to indicate that a great mistake had +been made. "Then there's your mother's will," he went on. "The idea of +leaving that big fortune to a boy like you. It's wicked! It's a terrible +risk! A terrible risk! What a foolish woman she was! But then it's all +you can expect of a woman!" + +"Look here, Uncle Ezra!" exclaimed Dick, rising to his feet, his brown +eyes sparkling in a dangerous way, and a red flush showing on his +cheeks. "I don't want you to speak that way of my mother!" + +"She was my sister, and I say she made a foolish will!" stormed the old +man. + +"She was my mother!" replied Dick hotly, "and I'll not have her spoken +of in that way! She knew what she was doing! She was the best woman that +ever lived and--and much better than you are with your ideas of what is +good. You musn't speak so of her! I'll not stand it!" + +"Look here, young man!" exclaimed Mr. Larabee. "I guess you forget who +you're talking to." + +"No, I don't!" + +"I won't have such language used toward me. I say your mother made a +foolish will, and I know what I'm talking about." + +"If you say that again I'll--I'll--" and then Dick paused. After all +this man was his mother's brother, and he knew how his parent would have +gently reproved him had she been alive. The memory of her took all the +hard feeling out of his heart. + +"I'm sorry I spoke so hastily, Uncle Ezra," he said in a low voice. "But +I can't bear to have my mother referred to in that way. I think she did +what was right, and I know my father does also." + +"Humph, little he knows about it," snorted Mr. Larabee. "Just you wait +until you come under my care, young man, and I'll show you what's what! +I'll teach you how to behave to your elders," and, in great indignation, +the old man trudged off. + +Dick started. He had, for the moment, forgotten that portion of his +mother's will which, under certain conditions, would compel him to live +with his uncle and aunt. + +"Live with them?" thought the boy. "Go to a boarding school they might +select? Not much! I must make some kind of a paying investment within a +year, if only to escape their clutches!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +DICK BECOMES CELEBRATED + + +Dick managed to live through the week at his uncle's place, but it was +hard work. He was corrected from morning until night. Almost everything +he did while in the house, if it was only to pick up a book in the hope +of finding something to read, met with a reproof from Aunt Samantha. + +"Don't do that," she would say. "You'll make the dust fly about if you +disturb the books, and I can't abide dust." + +If he wandered about the grounds his uncle would covertly watch him. + +"Don't pick up stones to throw," Mr. Larabee would caution the lad. "You +might break a window, or take the bark off my favorite apple trees. I +never saw such a boy! Why can't you sit still and think? I'm sure you've +got enough responsibilities hanging over you, with all that money your +mother so foolishly----" + +But he had the sense to stop there, for the angry flash in Dick's brown +eyes warned him this was a subject he had better not mention to his +nephew. + +There was never a more happy boy than Dick when the week of probation +was up and he could start for home. + +"You are going back to that wasteful life of idleness," said his aunt, +as she condescended to shake hands with him, and give him her little +bird-like kiss. "I hope your visit here has done you good. You may make +us a longer one--some day." + +"Not if I can help it," thought Dick to himself. + +"Come, now," grumbled Uncle Ezra. "I don't want to keep the horse out of +the stable any longer than I can help. He might take cold and I'd have +to buy some medicine. Saving money is like earning it, as I hope you'll +learn, Nephew Richard. I'll teach it to you when you come under my +control, as I'm sure you will, for you never can comply with the task +your mother so foolishly----" + +Dick's hands clinched, and it was lucky that at that moment the horse +shied at a piece of paper, requiring all Mr. Larabee's attention to +control him, or there might have been a renewal of the quarrel. + +Dick breathed a sigh of relief as the gloomy house in the midst of the +fir trees was left behind, and he gave vent to an audible exclamation of +satisfaction when he was in the train and speeding away from Dankville, +for even the name of the place seemed to have an unhappy influence over +him. + +"Well, are you glad to get back?" asked Mr. Hamilton, as he greeted his +son that afternoon. + +"Glad, father? Say, give me some of that money, quick! I want to make +that paying investment. I never could stand it at The Firs!" + +Mr. Hamilton laughed. + +"Well, in spite of his queer ways, your Uncle Ezra is a man of sterling +character," he said. "He is as true as steel----" + +"And just about as hard," interrupted Dick, with a smile. + +"But now to business," went on Mr. Hamilton. "I have deposited a large +sum to your credit in our bank, and if you will come downtown with me +now I'll introduce you to the cashier and see that you get a check book. +Then--well, the world is before you, and it's yours--to conquer or be +conquered by." + +On their way to the bank father and son were greeted by many +acquaintances, for Mr. Hamilton was a person of great importance in +Hamilton Corners. The town was a good-sized one, situated on the shore +of Lake Dunkirk, a large body of water. Mr. Hamilton, besides being +president of the Hamilton National Bank, was vice-president of the +Hamilton Trust Company, and owned a stone quarry, a brass foundry, large +woolen mills, and a lumber concern, all in the town or its immediate +vicinity. + +He was also a director of the Hamilton, Dorchester and Hatfield +Railroad, which ran through the town, and president of the Hamilton +Trolley Company. These were all sources of Mr. Hamilton's wealth, and, +as he employed many men in the various industries, which he controlled +or was interested in, he was regarded as the most important man in the +place. + +But this did not make him overbearing in character. In fact, he was a +very kind man, always ready to help the poor, and as he had begun as a +poor boy and made his money by hard work, he had a great sympathy for +those not so well off in this world's goods. + +Dick took after his father. Though surrounded by wealth all his life, +and accustomed to luxury, he was a lad of democratic spirit. He cared +little for money in itself, though he appreciated what could be done +with it, and he was always willing to use what he had for the benefit or +pleasure of himself and his friends. He was ambitious in no small +degree, and anxious to succeed in whatever he undertook. + +It did not take long to get through with the formalities at the bank, +and Dick's eyes sparkled when he saw the substantial balance to his +credit. He took the little red check book with an air as though he had +used one all his life, put it into his pocket, and, nodding to his +father, walked out. + +"Well," remarked Mr. Hamilton, with a little sigh, "I hope money doesn't +spoil him, for he is a fine lad. But I guess the remembrance of his +Uncle Ezra may have a large influence on what he does." + +The first person Dick met on emerging from the bank was Henry Darby. He +hailed the poorer lad. + +"Well, Henry, did you get that load of iron home safe?" + +"Yes, and I sold it the next day. I'm much obliged to you for sending +that horse. I couldn't get the one I hired from the man, of whom I +bought the iron, to go another step. I'd have been there all night if it +hadn't been for you." + +"That's all right. The next time I meet you in a fix like that I'll tow +you home myself." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, I'm going to get an automobile." + +"An automobile?" and Henry's eyes opened as wide as possible. The +machines were rarely seen in Hamilton Corners. + +"Yes. You see, Henry, I've come into some property, and I can spend as +much money as I like--of course, not waste it. I've always wanted an +auto, and I'm going to get one. I'm going for it now." + +"Whew, I wish I was you," exclaimed Henry, with a sigh, as he started +down the street after some more old iron he had heard was for sale. + +Henry was an energetic lad, always looking for a chance to make money. +He lived with his father, who was never called anything else than "Hank" +Darby, and who was known as the most "shiftless" man in town. Mr. Darby +was always talking of big schemes he was going to put into operation as +soon as he could command the capital, but he never got the money. As a +consequence he never did anything, but lived off what his son earned. + +Dick had decided that his first purchase with his new wealth should be +an automobile. He wanted to get a big touring car, but his father +suggested that he had better start with a runabout. + +"It will be less expensive if you have a smash-up learning how to run +it," counseled Mr. Hamilton, and Dick wisely agreed with him. + +"When I get my car I'll take a run about the country and see what sort +of an investment I'll make," said Dick. "I may want to go in for real +estate. There's money in that, isn't there, dad?" + +"Yes, if you buy right and sell right. But that business is like +everything else, you've got to learn it. However, you are your own +master to a certain extent. Good luck to you." + +Dick went to a neighboring city that same afternoon and purchased his +runabout. He wanted to drive it home alone, but the manager of the +garage sent a helper with the boy. But the man did not have much to do, +for Dick was very quick and soon learned the different points. In a few +days he was able to operate the machine with considerable skill, and he +took a number of his boy friends for a spin in the country. + +"Want to take a trip?" he called one afternoon to Simon Scardale and Guy +Fletcher, whom he saw in front of the billiard room, which place they +seemed to frequent very much of late. + +"Sure," replied Simon. "Maybe we can get a race with some car along the +road. That will be sport." + +"Not for me," replied Dick quietly. "I sha'n't race until I know the car +better. But come along." + +In spite of their rather flashy manners, Dick liked Simon and Guy, as he +did nearly everyone, in fact--for Dick Hamilton was a large-hearted +youth. He accepted all his acquaintances "at one hundred cents on the +dollar" until he learned to value them differently. + +The three boys spent a pleasant time whirring about on the country +roads. + +"What do you think of that property?" asked Dick at length, pointing to +a low, swampy tract. + +"Why?" asked Guy. "Thinking of buying it?" + +"Maybe," replied Dick. "I have a chance to get it cheap. Do you think I +could sell it again?" + +"Search me," answered Simon. "It looks to be good for ducks, that's +all." + +"It only needs draining," objected Dick. "I think it would be a good +investment, and I came out here to look at it." + +"Going into business?" asked Guy, with a sneer. "I thought you didn't +have to work." + +"Of course I'm going into business, as soon as I finish at school," +said Dick, for the term at the academy, where he attended, had recently +closed. "I've come into some money lately," he said modestly, for he had +not spoken of his fortune to any one yet, "and I want to invest some of +my spare cash." + +"I'll tell you the very thing!" exclaimed Simon. "I know a stock that's +bound to go up ten points in a few days." + +"No stocks or bonds for me until I know a little more about them," +objected Dick. + +"But this is a sure thing," insisted Simon. "I got a tip on it from a +friend in New York." + +"I've read of too many 'sure things' going wrong," said Dick with a +laugh. "I think I'll try real estate for a starter." + +Simon looked a little disappointed, but he made up his mind he would try +Dick again on that subject, and a strange, cunning look came into his +face. + +During the trip back Simon tried to learn from the millionaire's son +more about his new wealth, but Dick did not give him much satisfaction. +However, Simon was sharp, and by dint of skillful hints and questions +learned more than Dick thought he had told. Guy, too, was much +interested, and a visible change came over his manner. + +Guy's father, Peter Fletcher, was president of the Hamilton Trust +Company, and, though Mr. Hamilton owned most of the stock of the +concern, and had only placed Mr. Fletcher at the head of the +institution for business reasons, Guy gave himself as many airs as +though his father owned the bank. Learning that Dick had come into +possession of some wealth on his own account, though he did not know the +source, Guy was somewhat inclined to toady to the youth with whom he was +on more or less friendly terms. + +It was two days after this, when the evening papers arrived in Hamilton +Corners, that a mild sensation was created. There, on the front pages, +was what purported to be a picture of Dick Hamilton, while under it was +the caption, in big letters: + + THE MILLIONAIRE YOUTH. + +Then followed a garbled, but fairly correct, account of how Dick, +through the will of his mother, had come into possession of fabulous +wealth. Of course the figure was put much higher than it really was. In +fact, no one but Mr. Hamilton was aware of the exact amount, but this +did not stop the writer of the article from guessing at it. + +Dick was described as a modern King Midas, and he was credited with +sleeping in an ivory bed and eating off of gold plates and the rarest of +cut glass. Nothing was said about the peculiar provisions of the will +regarding the investment he was to make; but the boundless opportunities +open to a youth with unlimited wealth at his disposal were all pointed +out. + +"Well, if that isn't the limit!" exclaimed Dick, when he saw the paper. +"I wonder who did it?" + +Perhaps if he had asked Simon Scardale that question that youth might +have been confused, but Dick never thought of it. + +"It certainly is very unpleasant notoriety," remarked Mr. Hamilton, "but +you'll have to put up with it. You are a sort of ward of the public now, +and the newspapers think they have a proprietary interest in you. I have +been through it all, and so has nearly every other person of wealth. The +best way is to pay no attention to it, and to treat with courtesy any +newspaper men who may wish to interview you. They have a hard enough +life, and if our doings, to a certain extent, interest them, why I, for +one, am willing to oblige them as far as I can. I suppose the +transferring to your name of some stocks and bonds, that were your +mother's, has started this piece of news. Well, you have achieved a +certain degree of fame, Dick, my boy." + +And Dick found this out to his cost. The article in one paper was +followed by others in various journals, until Dick's wealth had been +made the comment of newspaper reporters and editors in many cities. But, +through it all the youth kept a level head. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DICK AIDS HENRY + + +"Where are you going to-day, Dick?" asked Mr. Hamilton after breakfast +one morning. + +"I thought of taking a run in my car. I've bought that property I was +telling you about. I think it will be a good investment, and it only +took five hundred dollars to secure it. I talked to the agent, and he +said I was sure to be able to sell it for a thousand at the end of the +year." + +"Humph! Well--er--of course, you can't believe all that a real-estate +agent says, Dick." + +"No, of course. I'm making allowances for that, and I figure that it +ought to be worth at least eight hundred a year from now. That will +clear me three hundred." + +"Well, you can do as you like about it. By the way, I had a visit at the +bank yesterday from an agent for a motor boat concern. He said you had +ordered a boat from them, and he wanted to know if it was all right." + +"I did, dad. I've always wanted one. I hope you told him it was all +right." + +"I told him to see you about it. I have no objection to you purchasing +one of the craft. Only be careful when you go out on the lake. There are +sudden storms on it, and you might be in danger." + +"I'll be careful, dad. I guess I'll just run over to the motor boat +place in my car and see if the boat is ready to deliver. They had to +order one from the factory for me." + +As Dick was riding through the town at an easy pace he passed a rather +dilapidated looking house, in front of which stood a youth, at the sight +of whom Dick called: + +"Hello, Henry! Want a ride?" + +"Thanks, Dick," was Henry Darby's answer. "But I can't go." + +"Why not?" asked the millionaire's son, as he brought his runabout to a +stop. + +"Well, I'm engaged in a little business deal, and I'm so bothered over +it that I wouldn't enjoy a ride. Besides, I have to go see a man." + +"What's the business about, Henry? That same old iron?" + +"That's it." + +"But what are you bothered about?" + +"Well, the truth is I have a chance to get hold of a lot of scrap at a +very low figure. But the trouble is I must pay cash for it. I looked at +it the other day, and told the man I'd take it. I figured then on having +the money. Now I find I haven't got it." + +"Did you lose it?" + +"No," and Henry spoke hesitatingly. "But you see my father had an idea +he could make some money by becoming agent for a new kind of soap. He +borrowed my cash and sent for a big supply; but when he got it no one +would buy it. So he has it on hand, and my money is gone. Of course what +I have is my father's until I'm of age, but----" + +Henry stopped. In spite of the selfish and lazy character of his parent +he was not going to utter any complaint against him. + +"How much money do you need to buy this iron?" asked Dick, a sudden +resolve coming into his mind. + +"It will take fifty dollars; but it might just as well be five hundred +as far as I'm concerned. I could get it together in about a month, but +it's out of the question now. I'm just on my way to tell the man I can't +take the iron. It's too bad, as it's a bargain, and I could easily make +considerable on the deal." + +While Henry was speaking Dick had drawn a little red book from his +pocket, and was busily writing in it with a fountain pen. He tore out a +slip of paper and handed it to his friend. + +"There, Henry," he said, "if you take that to the Hamilton National Bank +they'll give you cash for it." + +"But what is it--I don't understand--a check for fifty dollars!" +exclaimed the other youth. + +"That's what it is," replied Dick smiling. "It's a present from me, +Henry." + +"A present! I'm sorry, but I can't take it, Dick. I'm very much obliged +to you, but it wouldn't be business, you know. I don't want anything I +don't earn." + +"But I have lots more," insisted Dick. "In fact, I'd never miss that +sum." + +"I can't help it. I couldn't take it, though I thank you very much," and +Henry handed back the little slip. + +"Wait!" exclaimed Dick. "Will you take it as a loan, Henry?" + +"A loan?" + +"Yes; to be paid back--whenever you get good and ready. Do take it--as a +loan." + +"A loan," repeated Henry in a low tone. "Well, I might do that. But if +you're in any hurry for the money you'd better not let me take it. I +don't know when I can pay it back." + +"That's all right. Keep it as long as you like." + +"But there's another objection," said Henry, who appeared to be very +conscientious about it. "You have no security for it." + +"I don't need any from you, Henry." + +"But it wouldn't be right to take it without security. Wait, I'll tell +you what I'll do." + +He hurried back into his house, to return in a few minutes with a folded +paper which he handed to Dick. + +"What is this?" + +"That," said Henry proudly, "is my personal note for fifty dollars, +payable in one month, with interest at six per cent., as security for +this loan. You can have it discounted at the bank," he added with a +laugh; "that is if you can get your father, or somebody with some money, +to indorse it. Anyhow, it's my note. The first one I ever gave. Now you +needn't worry about your money, Dick." + +"I'm not worrying about it. In fact, I've got a deal of my own on hand +that I expect to make some profit on. Besides, I'm going to buy a new +motor boat, and I've got to go see about it. Will you come along?" + +"No, indeed. I'm going to buy that old iron now," and as Dick started up +his auto, Henry hurried into the house for his hat to go and complete +his business transaction. + +Dick rode on for about a mile, when he saw coming toward him a man in a +carriage. The man held up his hand as he approached, indicating that he +wanted the automobilist to stop. + +"I wonder what's the matter?" thought Dick. "I can't be going so fast +that I'm in danger of scaring his horse. Why, it's Mr. Bruce," as he +recognized the real-estate agent of whom he had purchased the land he +had been looking at with Guy and Simon one day. + +"How are you?" asked Mr. Bruce. "I was just coming over to see you, Mr. +Hamilton;" for he had been quite respectful to Dick since he learned of +his wealth. + +"To see me? What about?" + +"About that land deal. In fact, I have bad news for you." + +"Bad news?" + +"Yes, I have just learned that they are going to put a fertilizer +factory up on the property adjoining that which you bought, and yours +will be valueless to sell for building lots. No one will want to live +next to a fertilizer factory." + +"Then it means----" faltered Dick. + +"It means that your investment hasn't turned out well," went on the +agent. "In fact, your land is worth less than half what you paid for +it." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A TRIP TO NEW YORK + + +Dick was keenly disappointed, not so much at the news of the loss of his +money as he was over the fact that his first investment had proved a +failure. He began to realize that it was not as easy to make money as he +had supposed, even if you have a large amount to invest. + +"It's too bad," continued Mr. Bruce. "Of course I did not know when I +sold you the land that the factory was liable to go up near it." + +"Oh, it's not your fault," replied Dick. "I guess the best thing I can +do is to sell out and look for another investment. What do you think?" + +"I believe I would do that. I'll sell the land for you and get the best +price I can. When I first heard about it I tried to get the fertilizer +concern to buy it, but they had all they wanted and stopped right next +to your property. It's too bad." + +"Well, it might be worse," said Dick cheerfully. "It's not going to make +me poor, that's one consolation." + +But, as he started up his runabout again, bidding the agent good-bye, +his mind was busy with thoughts of what line he ought next to invest in +so that he might fulfil the conditions of his mother's will. + +"I guess I'll let real estate alone after this," he said. "It's too +risky until you know what's going to be built on the property next to +yours." + +But the somewhat disappointing thoughts over his failure were soon +dispelled when he saw the fine motor boat the firm had secured for him +from the factory. It was complete in every detail, from a small whistle, +worked by compressed air, to two small folding bunks in which passengers +could sleep should the craft remain out on Lake Dunkirk all night. + +Dick arranged to have the boat taken to the lake and floated, and, a few +days later, he had the pleasure of starting it up for the initial spin. +It ran at fast speed, and beat several more powerful boats. + +Dick did not enjoy this pleasure all alone. He invited Guy Fletcher, +Simon Scardale, Frank Bender, Fred Murdock and Chandler Norton, the +latter known as "Bricktop," because of his red hair, to take a trip with +him. + +"This is great!" exclaimed Frank, as the boat cut through the water. +"Say, Dick, you're all right, even if you are a millionaire's son and +have money to burn." + +"In fact, he's all the better for it," put in Guy, who had resolved to +be very friendly to that fortunate youth. "Three cheers for Dick +Hamilton!" + +"Drop that!" commanded Dick, who disliked Guy's manner. + +But the boys responded heartily, and if Guy and Simon joined in with +sneers in their hearts, which did not show on their faces, they alone +were aware of it. + +"Here, where are you going, Frank?" asked Dick, a few minutes later as +he saw one of his guests climbing out on the narrow bow of the boat. + +"Watch me," replied Frank Bender, and, a moment later, he was standing +on his head in his rather insecure place, his feet waving aloft in the +air. + +"Come back here!" cried Dick, as he slowed down the engine. "Do you want +to fall off and drown?" + +"No," replied Frank, as he assumed his normal position. + +"But, you see, I never stood on my head on a motor boat before and I +wanted to do it. I want to get all sorts of practice, for I'm going to +join a circus some day, and there's no telling what stunts they may want +me to do." + +"Oh, you and your circus!" exclaimed "Bricktop." "You're always talking +about it!" + +Which was the truth, for Frank took every chance that came to him to +indulge in acrobatics of one form or another. He was continually turning +cart wheels, standing on his head or his hands, twisting himself into +knots, from which it seemed impossible that he could ever get loose, or +bending himself until he resembled an animated horse shoe. He was "as +limber as an eel," the boys used to say. + +"That's all right," responded the amateur circus performer, "I'll be in +a show some day, with a suit of green and gold spangles, and you fellows +will be paying money to see me. All except Dick. I'll give him a free +pass." + +"Thanks," answered Dick with a laugh, as he started the engine on full +speed again. + +"Say, wouldn't it be great if we could only make a trip to New York this +way," remarked Fred Murdock. + +"Yes, this boat would look nice traveling over dry land the best part of +the way," said Dick with a smile. "If this lake only opened into a river +or a canal we might do it, but it's out of the question now." + +"Why don't you go in your automobile?" suggested Simon, with a curious +look at Guy. + +"That's so, I never thought of it," replied Dick. "I believe I will if +dad will let me." + +"Take us along?" asked Frank. "Maybe I could get an engagement there in +one of the theatres. I can do quite a lot of turns now." + +"My car's too small for this bunch," replied the millionaire's son. + +"Hire a touring car; you have lots of money," spoke up Guy, with a +covert sneer. + +"Good idea!" exclaimed Dick, not noticing the tone of the remark. "I +believe I will. Would you fellows all go?" + +"Would we!" was shouted in a chorus. "Don't ask us twice," said Fred. + +"All right; it's a go!" went on Dick. "I'll see about it at once." + +With Dick, to think was to act shortly afterward, and that night he +asked his father for permission to take a crowd of his friends to the +metropolis, which could easily be reached in a day by using a swift +touring car. + +"Besides," added Dick, as an added reason for the permission being +given, "I may hear of some investment there." + +"What's the matter with the land you bought?" asked Mr. Hamilton. + +"Oh, that failed," and Dick told the story of the fertilizer factory. + +"Well, it's a good lesson to you, my son," was all Mr. Hamilton said by +way of reproof. "No, I've no objection to you going to New York. Hire +the car you wish, and be sure they supply a good driver. You're not +quite capable of managing one of those ponderous machines yet. But be +careful. Don't go to buying any gold bricks," and he laughed. + +"No danger," replied Dick. "I've cut my eye teeth." + +It was arranged that they should start in three days. Dick engaged the +largest and finest car in the garage of a neighboring city, and told +his friends to get ready. + +"Are you going?" asked Guy of Simon, the day before that set for the +trip. + +"Am I? Well, you can make up your mind to that. I can see something good +in this for us." + +"Good? What do you mean?" + +"Money, of course." + +"Don't get the idea that Dick is going to distribute five-dollar gold +pieces along the route, Simon." + +"I'm not; but I've got a plan of my own. If this wealthy young greenhorn +doesn't drop a few hundreds in New York, and if I don't get my share, +I'm very much mistaken. You can just as well have some as not." + +"How you going to do it?" + +"That's my secret," replied Simon, with a wink. "I didn't live five +years in New York for nothing. I've got some friends there who will help +me. Just you wait." + +"But you want to be careful. Dick is no fool, even if he is wealthy." + +"Don't you worry. I know what I'm about." + +The pair, who were well matched, whispered for some time together, and +when they separated, Simon, with many winks, gave his companion renewed +assurances that Dick's trip to New York would prove financially +beneficial to both of them. + +Guy knew little of Simon, who had come to Hamilton Corners about six +months before this story opens. He had met him in the billiard room, +where several youths of the town, who might better have been at +something else, frequently gathered. Simon never appeared to work, but +generally had plenty of money. + +He dressed flashily, and his conversation was filled with allusions to +this or that "sport." Guy, who aspired to be thought a gilded youth of +the city, rather than a plain country lad, with a father moderately well +off, at once made fast friends with Simon. + +Because of the business relations of Dick's and Guy's fathers, the two +lads had been more or less friendly for several years, and, when Guy +took up with Simon, Dick did not hesitate to admit him to his house, +where the boys frequently assembled to play billiards or other games, or +practice in the fine gymnasium Mr. Hamilton had provided for his son. + +Thus, though Dick was aware of the rather sporty character of Guy and +Simon, he was frank and pleasant with them, for he was a youth of rather +free and easy ways, in spite of his wealth. + +Dick would have been glad to take all his boy friends of Hamilton +Corners with him to New York, but the capacity of the automobile was +limited to seven; so, besides Dick, Simon and Guy, there went along +"Bricktop," Frank Bender and Walter Mead. + +Early on the appointed morning the big touring car, in charge of a +skillful driver, drew up in front of Dick's house, where the boys had +assembled. + +"Get in!" called Dick, from the window of his room. "I'll be right down +as soon as I can get my valise shut. I've got to say good-bye to Grit. +Poor fellow, he knows something's in the wind and he's trying to break +his chain to come along. But I'm afraid something will happen to him in +New York, so he's got to stay home." + +"He thinks as much of that dog as if it was a brother," remarked Guy +with something of a sneer, as the five youths entered the tonneau, for +Dick had elected to ride with the driver. + +"I don't blame him," said "Bricktop." "Grit's a dog worth having." + +"I hope Dick brings plenty of money along with him," whispered Simon to +Guy, as they followed Frank Bender into the machine. + +"Why?" asked Guy, also in a whisper. + +"Because I've got everything all planned for a neat trick. I guess he'll +not bring back as much as he takes away. I heard from my friend in New +York. He'll meet us at the hotel, and then--well, we'll see what will +happen." + +Dick came running down the steps of the mansion. + +"Good-bye!" he called to his father. "Yes, I'll be careful--good-bye!" + +There was a tooting of the automobile horn, a throbbing of the powerful +engine, a grinding sound as the gears were thrown into place, and the +boys were off on their trip to New York, Dick with his heart full of +happiness and anticipation, while Simon and Guy were thinking over the +plot they had made to get away from the millionaire's son a little of +his wealth. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A SHARPER FOILED + + +Through Hamilton Corners the big car shot, its progress watched by +throngs who had heard of Dick's trip. His conduct was commented on in +various ways. + +"Good land!" exclaimed Hank Darby. "If I had the money that spendthrift +will get rid of before he gets back here I could make my fortune. All I +need is a little capital and I'd be rich inside of a week. I have a +great scheme on." + +"Ain't goin' t' buy any more soap, be ye, Hank?" asked Porter Heavydale, +a little, thin, wisp of a man, who was fully as lazy as Hank, but who +made no secret of it. "Guess you had some slip-up there." + +"Oh, that--that was an accident, such as is liable to happen to any +business man," and Hank carefully whittled a stick until there was +nothing left of it. + +"Wa'al, a fool an' his money is soon parted, the proverb says," +commented Porter. "Give Dick rope enough an' he'll come t' th' end of it +sooner or later." + +"Dick's no fool," retorted Hank. "But I do hate to see him spend money." + +"Hasn't he a right to it, father?" asked Henry, always ready to come to +Dick's defense. "It's his, and I'm sure he has been kind enough to me. +Why, he loaned me fifty dollars the other day." + +"He did! Land sakes, where is it now, Henry? If I knowed that I could +have made a deal with it. Git it for me right away." + +"I can't," replied Henry. "I bought some old iron with it and I'm +waiting for a raise in the market. Besides, it's only a loan." + +"He'll never miss it," said Mr. Darby. "Good land! I wished I a-knowed +you had it! I could 'a' bought some oil well stock. It's awful cheap +now." + +"Yes, an' it would be a heap sight cheaper after you'd bought it," put +in Porter with a laugh. + +New York was reached by those in the touring car at nightfall, and Dick +registered himself and his friends at one of the finest hotels, the +manager of which his father knew. The boys had adjoining rooms in the +best part of the big building, and "Bricktop," Frank and Walter were so +excited over the beautifully fitted-up apartments that they could do +nothing but stare about. + +"Oh, they're not so bad," remarked Simon, in a patronizing tone when +appealed to by "Bricktop," who demanded to know if this wasn't "the best +ever." Simon had never been in such a fine hotel, but he wanted to +pretend he was used to the luxuries. Guy followed his crony's example +and affected to sneer at the accommodations. + +"My father and I generally put up at one of the better hotels," he said +affectedly. "But, of course, this is all right for roughing it." + +"Roughing it!" exclaimed Walter. "Come off! Why, it's good enough for a +king here." + +"Oh, well, wait until you've been about a bit," answered Simon +languidly. + +After supper Dick took his friends to a theatre, where a war-time play +was in progress, and even Simon and Guy enthused over the stirring +scenes. + +The next day was spent in visiting Central Park, the big zoo at Bronx +Park, and the Museums of Art and Natural History. + +Simon acted as escort, for he was fairly well acquainted with objects of +interest in New York, and Dick good-naturedly let him pilot the boys +about as though Simon was paying for it all instead of the millionaire's +son footing the bills. + +It was not long before a keen reporter had learned of the presence in +New York of the wealthy youth of whom the papers had recently contained +so much, and there appeared several items telling of the trip. There +were a number of incorrect stories in print, and Dick was credited with +having expended nearly ten thousand dollars on his simple little +pleasure jaunt. + +The result of this was that Dick was visited by a number of cranks, or, +rather, they came to the hotel; but the wise manager, who had been +telephoned to by Mr. Hamilton, had an eye to the wealthy youth's +comfort, and few of the bothersome ones got beyond the lobby. + +"I say," spoke Guy to Simon, on the afternoon of the third day in New +York, when Dick was in the far end of the room, writing a letter home, +"when are you going to pull off that trick, Simon?" + +"This evening," was the cautious answer. "I've seen Colonel Dendon, and +he's coming here to-night. I'm going to introduce him to Dick. The +colonel says he'll whack up with me whatever he gets out of him, and +I'll see that you get your share." + +"But, say," went on Guy. "This is no gold-brick swindle, is it? I +wouldn't do anything wrong--or--er--criminal--you know. Is it all +right?" + +"Of course it is!" exclaimed Simon, with a show of indignation. "Do you +think I'd do anything that wasn't right, or for which I could +be--er--get into trouble?" + +"I didn't know," ventured Guy. + +"Of course I wouldn't," continued Simon, with a great show of +indignation that any one should suspect him. "This thing is perfectly +legitimate. I know a certain party here--Colonel Dendon by name--who has +all kinds of stocks and bonds for sale. Some are better than others. On +some he can make a large profit. They may not be quite as good as those +some other men have, but that's not the fault of Colonel Dendon, or you +or me. It's the fault of the market. + +"He's often said to me that if I could introduce him to somebody with +money--somebody who'd buy some of his stocks--he'd give me twenty-five +per cent. of what he made. It's a regular business deal. It's done every +day. Colonel Dendon is a sort of a promotor. I'm only helping him. It's +perfectly honest--that is, as honest--well, it's as honest as lots of +things I know about. I wouldn't get you into any trouble, Guy." + +"I hope not," answered the weak youth, who believed nearly all that +Simon told him. "But if these stocks are good ones won't Dick make money +on them? And if he does how is the colonel going to make any?" + +"I didn't say for sure that the stocks were good," replied Simon. "They +may be good for all I know. Maybe Dick will have to hold them for some +time before he can realize on them. I don't bother with all those +details. The colonel has stocks to sell--all kinds--I simply introduce +Dick to him and he does the rest, and pays me and you for our trouble." + +"Then I guess it's all right," assented Guy, a little doubtfully. + +"Of course it is," declared Simon very positively. + +That evening, as Dick and his friends sat in the private parlor of their +suite of rooms, there was a knock at the door. Simon, being nearest it, +answered, and, as soon as he had opened the portal, he exclaimed: + +"Why, Colonel Dendon. Come right in. Richard, let me introduce you to +Colonel Dendon, an old friend of mine," Simon added with a grand air. +"Come right in, Colonel, I'm sure we're glad to see you," and Simon +winked at the man who entered. The colonel was not at all war-like +looking. He had shifty eyes, and a nervous manner. His white hair would +seem to have indicated that he was elderly, but his white beard, which +was stained by tobacco juice, did not tend to gain for him that respect +for which silver locks generally call. + +"I'll come in just for a minute--can't stay long--very busy," said the +colonel jerkily, as he gave Dick a rather limp and flabby hand. + +"I suppose you have some big deal on that won't keep," put in Guy, who +was playing his part in the plot. + +"That's it. Yes, I've got an appointment with some bank directors for +seven o'clock, and one with the president of Pennsylvania Railroad at +eight. A big bond sale involved. I heard you were in town, Simon, and I +thought I'd look you up." + +"Glad you did. But, by the way, I don't suppose you have anything in the +line of investment that you would care to recommend to my friend, Mr. +Hamilton, here? You've heard about him, I think." + +"Is this the young man who has so much money?" asked the colonel, with a +start of seeming surprise. + +"Well, I don't know that it's such an awful pile," said Dick with a +laugh, for he disliked having his wealth talked about by strangers. + +"I've read lots about you," went on Colonel Dendon. "No, I'm afraid I +haven't anything that you would care for. I only deal in big sums." + +"Well, Dick can command large sums," put in Guy, with an uneasy laugh. + +"I don't suppose you would care to take a hundred thousand dollars worth +of mining securities of a gilt-edge kind?" asked the colonel, looking at +Dick. + +"No, I'm hardly up to that yet. I intend to do some investing sooner or +later; but I'm going to begin small. A hundred thousand is a little too +large for me just yet." + +"I was afraid so," replied Colonel Dendon, with a queer smile. "Well, I +must be going. I'm a very busy man." + +He turned as if about to leave the room, and then he suddenly seemed to +remember something. + +"Now I think of it, I have a few securities that I might let your friend +have as a favor to you," he said, addressing Simon. "They are mining +stocks. I took them from a man who failed, and I know they are valuable. +They are worth to-day half as much again as I paid for them. But, as a +favor to Mr. Hamilton, I'd let him have them at a small advance over +what I paid. I have to do business on business principles," he added, +with an air meant to be very important. + +"Here's your chance, Dick," whispered Guy. "This man is a big stock +operator. You can almost double your money and make up all you spent on +this trip." + +Dick was doing some rapid thinking. The loss of the money he had +invested in the land was something of a disappointment to him. Then, +too, he felt under the necessity of making some kind of a paying +investment. He had a vision of Uncle Ezra and the house at Dankville, +and the memory of that gloomy place made him wish to comply as soon as +possible with the terms of his mother's will. + +"I don't mind investing some money, say five hundred or a thousand +dollars, in good mining stocks--if you are sure they are good," he said, +turning to Colonel Dendon. + +"Good! My dear young man, do you wish to insult me? As if I would deal +in stocks that were anything but the best. I shall leave at once!" and, +puffing up like an angry toad, the colonel again turned as if to go. + +"Wait!" exclaimed Simon. "I'm sure my friend Dick didn't mean anything, +Colonel. You see, he has never bought mining stocks before, and he +doesn't know much about them." + +"I know enough to want to be sure they are good!" replied Dick sharply, +for he rather resented Simon's tone. "I'm not going to be swindled." + +"Of course not," said the colonel, in less aggrieved tones. "I was a +little too hasty. But I can assure you, Mr. Hamilton, that these +securities are the very best of their kind. They are gilt-edged." + +As he spoke he drew from his pocket a bundle of certificates which, as +far as appearances went, were "gilt-edged," for there was a broad band +of gilt all around them. + +"I can let you have these for eight hundred dollars," he said; "and they +will be worth a thousand inside of a month. I would keep them myself +only I have bigger schemes on hand. I will let you have them as a +special favor, Mr. Hamilton." + +Dick examined the certificates. They certainly looked just like those he +had often seen in his father's bank. They bore a number of flourishing +signatures and a printed notice to the effect that they were listed on +the New York Stock Exchange. They called for a number of shares of stock +in a Pennsylvania oil well concern. + +Dick felt impelled to take them. It seemed all right, even if he did +have some lingering suspicion regarding the colonel. Still, appearances +might be against him, and certainly Simon seemed to know the man. + +Dick saw a vision of his investment turning out well, so he would have +no further worry about fulfilling the conditions of the will. Once they +were met he could enjoy his new wealth. + +"I think I'll take these," he said, reaching for his pocket-book, where +he carried several hundred dollars, though he had left some of his money +in the hotel safe. "I will give you part cash and a check." + +"It will be a fine investment," said Colonel Dendon; but he did not say +for whom. "I can assure you, Mr. Hamilton, that I never sold such +gilt-edged securities before. I am glad----" + +At that instant the door of Dick's apartments opened, and a +quietly-dressed man entered. He looked at the group of boys, noted the +bundle of stock certificates, and then his glance rested on Colonel +Dendon. + +"I must ask you to leave this hotel at once," he said sharply, to the +white-haired man. "If you don't go I shall be under the necessity of +putting you under arrest." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DICK AND THE REPORTER + + +For a few moments after the surprising announcement, no one spoke. The +boys and Colonel Dendon stared at the newcomer. The colonel was the +first to recover himself. + +"What is the meaning of this unwarranted intrusion?" he demanded, in +pompous tones. "These young gentlemen and myself were discussing some +financial matters when you interrupt us. You have doubtless made a +mistake, and I will overlook it this time. Withdraw at once, sir, or I +shall have to call the servants and have you thrown out of these private +apartments, sir!" + +"Better go easy," suggested the quiet-looking man, with just the +suggestion of a smile. "If there's any throwing out to be done I reckon +I'll take a hand in it." + +"What do you mean, sir? Leave the room at once!" exclaimed the colonel, +getting red in the face. + +"I mean just this, William Jackson, _alias_ Colonel Dendon, _alias_ Bond +Broker Bill!" said the man sharply, "that you must leave this hotel at +once or I shall arrest you. You can't conduct any of your swindling +games here--trying to sell fake stocks and bonds. I saw you come in, and +learned that you were calling on this young man," and he nodded to Dick, +who was much surprised at the proceeding. "I got up here in time to warn +him, I see. I hope you haven't given him any money?" he asked of the +millionaire's son. + +"I--I was just going to--for some bonds he had." + +"Lucky I came in," was the man's reply. "Now beat it, Bill," and he +waved his hand toward the door. "Take your trash with you," he added, +sweeping the bonds from the table. + +Dick and the other boys, with the possible exception of Simon, expected +to see the colonel defend himself and indignantly reply to the stranger. +Instead he hurriedly gathered up his papers and fairly raced from the +room. + +"Is he--is he a swindler?" asked Dick, faintly. + +"One of the slickest in New York," was the answer. "His game is to sell +fake bonds in companies that never existed, though some of them are +legally organized. Once in a while, just to fool the police, he deals in +regular stocks, but the kind he usually sells are fake ones. I'm the +hotel detective," the man went on. "We have to be always on the lookout +for such chaps as he is, especially when we have young millionaires +stopping at the house," and he smiled at Dick. + +"I'm much obliged to you," answered Dick heartily. "You've saved me a +considerable sum." + +"That's what I'm here for," returned the detective cheerfully. "Don't go +buying any gold bricks, now," and, with a nod at the boys, he was gone. + +"Well, wouldn't that rattle your teeth!" exclaimed "Bricktop." "I've +read about those confidence men and green-goods swindlers, but I never +saw one before." + +"Me, either," remarked Frank Bender. "Say, this will be something to +tell the folks back home," and, in the excitement of his spirits he +tried to stand on his head in a washbowl on the stand. It was full of +water, and his acrobatic feat was brought to an abrupt end as he lifted +his head, dripping wet. + +"That's a new way to do it!" exclaimed Walter Mead, with a laugh. + +"Ugh! Burrrr! Wow! Whew! Give me a towel, quick!" yelled Frank. "The +water had soap in it, and it's got in my eyes!" + +He groped around with outstretched hands, seeking a towel, which, after +he was able to stop laughing, Dick handed him. + +"Did you know that Colonel Dendon was a swindler?" asked Walter of +Simon, when the excitement had somewhat subsided. + +"Me? No, of course not!" exclaimed Simon hastily. "All I knew was that +he sold bonds, and I thought it would be a good chance for Dick to make +money. He said he wanted to learn business and make money. I--I was as +much surprised as any of you," concluded Simon, with an injured air. "I +hope you don't think, Dick, that I would have had anything to do with +that man if I had known what he was?" + +"I'm not blaming you any," replied Dick. "Mistakes will happen in the +best of regulated financial affairs. Glad that detective happened to +come in when he did or I might have been badly stung." + +It was now too late to go out to any amusement and the boys, after +discussing the recent happenings, went to bed, planning to visit many +points of interest the next day. + +"Well, your scheme didn't work out, did it?" said Guy to Simon, as they +went to their rooms. + +"Not exactly," was the answer. "But I give you my word I didn't know the +colonel was such a swindler as that. Never mind, though, I'll make money +out of Dick--somehow." + +Dick and his chums had scarcely finished their breakfast the next +morning, and were preparing to go out, when the bell boy brought up a +card reading: + + +------------------------+ + | LAWRENCE DEXTER | + | | + | _New York Leader_ | + +------------------------+ + +"Who is it?" asked "Bricktop," "another man to sell bonds?" + +Dick handed over the card. + +"_New York Leader_, eh? I wonder what he leads, a band or some political +party?" + +"That's a reporter," said Walter. "Going to let him in, Dick?" + +"Yes, I guess so. I'm tired of having stuff in the papers about me; but +these reporters have to get the stories they're sent after, and it's no +use making it any harder for them than they have it. Tell him to come +up," he said to the waiting bell boy. + +A tall, good-looking youth, with a pleasant, manly air, entered the +room. + +To those who have read some of my other books he will not be a stranger, +for he was none other than Larry Dexter, whose various adventures I have +described in "The Great Newspaper Series," starting with "From Office +Boy to Reporter." + +"Which one is the millionaire's son, with money to burn?" Larry asked, +with a laugh that showed in his eyes. He was a little older than Dick. + +"I suppose I am," answered the wealthy youth. + +"I'm from the _Leader_," said Larry Dexter. "I've been sent to get your +impressions of New York, and to ask whether you find it a good place to +spend money. Do you mind talking for publication?" + +There was such a winning way about this reporter, so different from +that noticeable in many of the newspaper men Dick had been inflicted +with, that the millionaire's son liked him at once. Larry did not take +it for granted that Dick must submit to the questions, but, in a +gentlemanly way, asked for permission to "write him up." + +"I don't know that I can tell you anything that will be of interest to +the paper," said Dick, "but I'll do my best." + +"That's a relief," returned Larry. "I just came from a crusty old man--a +professor who has discovered a new way of making milk keep--and he was +so grouchy I couldn't get a word out of him. It's a big change to find +somebody who will talk." + +"Please don't make up a lot of silly, sensational stuff?" pleaded Dick. +"I'm tired of all that. I'm no different from other fellows." + +"Oh, yes, you are!" interrupted Larry with a laugh. "You have millions +of money, and you'll find that makes all the difference in the world. It +will gain you friends, position--in fact, almost anything. At least so +they tell me," he added with another smile. "I never had a million +myself. But now let's get down to business. What do you think of New +York? Can you spend money here as fast as you want to?" + +"He came pretty near spending it faster than he wanted to last night," +put in "Bricktop." + +"How was that?" asked Larry quickly, feeling that there was "in the +air," so to speak, a story out of the usual run. + +Thereupon Dick told about the attempted bond swindle. + +"Say, this is great!" exclaimed Larry. "This is the best yet! This beats +having you talk about New York. Do me a favor, will you?" + +"What is it?" inquired Dick. "If it's to buy some gilt-edged bonds, I'm +afraid I'll have to decline." + +"No, it's only this. Don't say anything about this bond business to any +other reporters." + +"I'm not likely to, unless they ask me to," replied Dick. "But why?" + +"Because I want to get a beat out of it." + +"A beat?" inquired "Bricktop," while the other boys looked puzzled. + +"Yes. An exclusive story. I don't want the reporters for any other +papers to get hold of it. If I have it all alone in the _Leader_ it will +be a feather in my cap. News that no other paper has is the very best +kind."? + +"Gilt-edged, I suppose," put in Dick. + +"That's it," replied Larry quickly. "Now don't tell any other reporters, +will you?" + +"Well, if they come here and ask about it, I can't say it wasn't so." + +"No, I suppose not," assented Larry. "But, I tell you what you can do." + +"What?" + +"Go for a walk, and don't come back to the hotel until after my paper is +out with the story. We publish in the afternoon and go to press about +noon for the first edition. Would it be asking too much of you to do +that?" + +"No, for we were going out anyhow." + +"Then come with me," suggested Larry. "I'll take you to the _Leader_ +office and have a man show you how we make a newspaper. I guess no other +reporters will come in there to get the story out of you," and he +laughed in delight at the "beat" he had secured. + +Dick and his friends were only too glad to get a chance to see a big +paper printed, and soon they were on their way to the _Leader_ office, +escorted by Larry. + +"If any other reporters see me they'll think I'm taking some young men's +club on a tour of the city," the young journalist remarked, as the +little throng walked along. "Well, if they do, it will be a good way to +throw them off the scent." + +Larry reported to his city editor about having most unexpectedly come +across a "big" story in connection with the young millionaire, and was +told to "let it run for all it's worth." + +"I'll see to it that the modern Croesus and his friends are +entertained," said Mr. Newton, another reporter, who was told by Mr. +Emberg, the city editor, to show Dick and his chums around the newspaper +plant. + +It was getting close to edition time, and they noticed, with much +amazement, how the reporters came hurrying in with the news they had +gathered; how they sat down at typewriters and rattled it off; how it +was corrected and edited; sent to the composing room in pneumatic tubes; +set up on type-setting machines that seemed almost human; the type put +into "forms" or strong steel frames; how a soft sheet of wet paper was +pressed on the type and baked by steam until it took every impression +and was the exact counterpart of a printed page. + +The boys watched and saw that these baked sheets of paper, called +"matrices," were sent to the stereotyping room, where, bent into a +half-circle in a machine, they were filled with hot melted lead, which, +hardening, took every impression of the cardboard. + +Then the curved metal plates, each one representing a page of the paper, +were clamped on a big press, that worked with a noise like thunder, and, +in an instant, it seemed, white paper from a big roll, which was fed it +at one end, came out printed, pasted, and folded newspapers at the other +end of the machine. + +A grimy boy gathered up an armful of them, as they kept piling up at the +foot of a chute, which extended somewhere up inside the press. Mr. +Newton, who had escorted Dick and his friends about, took up one of the +journals. + +"There you are!" he shouted, above the rumble and roar of the press, as +he handed Dick a paper. + +The wealthy youth unfolded it. On the front page was the story of +himself and "Colonel Dendon." It was under a "scare" head, which +announced: + + ATTEMPTED SWINDLE OF YOUNG + MILLIONAIRE! + + SHARPER TRIES TO SELL TO DICK HAMILTON, WHO + RECENTLY INHERITED VAST WEALTH, + WORTHLESS BONDS! + + DETECTIVE ACTS IN TIME + +"Humph!" murmured Dick, when he saw what a big story Larry had made of +it. "If my father saw this he'd be worried." + +"You're getting more famous than ever!" exclaimed Walter Mead. + +"Looks so," admitted the young millionaire. "Well, I'm glad Larry got +his beat, anyhow." + +And it was a beat, for, when Dick got back to the hotel, the manager +told him half the newspapers in New York had been calling him up to ask +about the story. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN + + +Dick and his friends went home in the big automobile a few days later, +having crowded into their stay as much sight-seeing as was possible. +Dick had just finished telling his father, the evening of his arrival, +of his various adventures, including the one with the swindler, when the +servant announced: + +"Some one to see you, Master Dick." + +"Who is it?" + +"Henry Darby." + +"Ah, there's a young man who will make his mark some day!" exclaimed Mr. +Hamilton. "If his father was only like him Henry would have more +chances." + +"That's right," admitted Dick. "I wonder what he wants?" + +"Well, I'll leave you together," said Dick's father, as he left the +library, and a little later Henry was ushered in by the servant. + +"Hello, Henry!" exclaimed Dick. + +"Same to you and more of it," was Henry's greeting. "I've come to see if +you don't want a particularly fine line of gold bricks," he went on +with a laugh, for he had read in the papers of the attempted bond +swindle. + +"You'll have to see my secretary," spoke Dick, joining in the spirit of +the talk. "He buys all my gold bricks. But, to change the subject, how's +the old iron business?" + +"Pretty good. In fact, I came to see you about it, if you're not too +busy," and Henry tried to look as though he had come to discuss the +investment of millions. + +"No, I guess I can spare you a few minutes. What is it?" + +"I came to take up my note and pay it off," went on the young iron +merchant, drawing a roll of much-crumpled bills from his pocket. "Want +to save interest, you know. I managed to sell that iron I bought, and I +made a profit on it. So I'll pay that fifty-dollar note now." + +"Well, you certainly know how to make money," spoke Dick admiringly. +"I'll have to take lessons from you. But say, Henry, I'm in no hurry for +that money. If you can use it, why, just keep it." + +"No--no," went on Henry, with rather a sorrowful air, Dick thought. "I'd +better pay you while I have it. I might not be able to get it together +again. You take it," and he shoved the bills over toward Dick with an +air of desperation. + +"But, I don't need it," persisted Dick. "You might just as well keep it +a while, Henry." + +"Do you mean that?" asked Henry earnestly. + +"Sure." + +"Then I will," and Henry appeared much relieved. + +"In fact, if you want more I'll lend it to you," continued the +millionaire's son. + +"Are you in earnest?" + +"Of course I am. Why?" + +"Well, to tell you the truth I hated to pay back that fifty dollars. I +mean I still had a use for it. In fact, if I had a little more I could +branch out--I'm a sort of a little tree now--like one of those saplings +they set out. I need branches." + +"Tell me about it," suggested Dick. + +"Well, if I had two hundred dollars more I could buy out the business of +Moses Cohen, who deals in old metal. He's getting too feeble to carry it +on, and I heard it was for sale. I made some inquiries and I found I can +get it for about five hundred dollars." + +"But you said two hundred and fifty was all you needed." + +"So it is. I'm only going to pay half cash, and give a mortgage for the +balance. That's the safest way. So I was in hopes you wouldn't take that +fifty. I might induce him to take this on account and wait a while for +the two hundred." + +"He needn't wait at all," interrupted Dick. "I'll let you have two +hundred more, with pleasure," and he drew out his check book with a +little flourish. + +"I can't give you any security but my note," said Henry. "Even that +wouldn't be good in law, as I am not of age. But it shows I mean to pay +you back." + +"Of course it does." + +"I'll get my father to give you his, also," went on the young lad of +business. "Though I guess it isn't worth much more than mine," and he +sighed a little, for Henry was aware of his father's failing. + +"Yours is all I want," said Dick. "Tear up this old note and make out +one for two hundred and fifty dollars. Then you can buy out Cohen's +business." + +Henry tore up the fifty-dollar promissory note Dick handed him and soon +had made out another for the larger amount. + +"There's the check," went on Dick, handing it over. + +"I'll get dad to draw up some kind of a paper giving you a share in the +business," continued Henry. "He heard about me going to buy out old +Cohen, and he wants me to incorporate and make him one of the officers. +I guess that's what he's best fitted for," and once more Henry smiled +rather sadly. + +"Well, I wish you good luck," returned Dick as he shook hands with +Henry. "I'm going to put through some business deals myself soon, as for +certain reasons, I've got to make a good investment," and he thought of +his failure in the land scheme, while a vision of his Uncle Ezra came +to him like the memory of a bad dream. + +It was several days after this that Dick met Frank Bender on the street. +Frank was attired in his "Sunday clothes" and seemed in a hurry. + +"Where you going?" asked Dick. + +"Circus." + +"Where is it?" + +"Over to Parkertown. They have some good acrobats in it, and I want to +get a few points." + +"I wonder why a circus never comes here," mused Dick, half to himself. +"It's quite a trip to Parkertown." + +"This place is too small," replied Frank. + +"They have to have a big crowd to make it pay. A circus will never come +here." + +"No, I s'pose not," answered Dick. "Well, I wish I was going, but I've +got to go down to dad's bank. I've got a little business on hand." + +"So long," called Frank. "I must hurry to catch the train." + +"I wish they'd have a circus here some time," continued Dick, as he +walked along. "Hamilton Corners is too quiet. It needs stirring up." + +Just then he caught sight of a curious procession. It was composed of a +number of boys and girls, mostly little tots, walking along the street, +two by two, led by three matronly ladies. + +"The orphan asylum out for an airing," commented Dick. "Poor little +kids! Poor little kids!" + +There was a county orphan asylum in Hamilton Corners, and it was usually +well filled with small unfortunates. Twice a week they were taken for a +walk by some of the matrons in charge. + +"Poor little kids!" repeated Dick. "I'll bet they never saw a circus in +their lives. And they're not likely to. A circus will never come here. +The place is too small. No, they'll never see a circus--unless----" + +He came to a sudden stop in his musings. Then a light broke over his +face. + +"By Jimminy Crickets! I'll do it!" he exclaimed, so loudly that several +persons in the street turned to look at him. "I'll do it! That's what I +will!" + +He looked at his watch. + +"I've just got time to catch the train to Parkertown if I hustle," he +added as he set off on a run. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DICK INVESTS IN HAPPINESS + + +Dick managed to swing aboard the last car as the train for Parkertown +was pulling out of the station at Hamilton Corners. There was quite a +crowd on it, as many were going to the circus. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Frank Bender, as he caught sight of Dick walking up +the aisle of the car in which he was. "I thought you weren't going." + +"I wasn't, but I changed my mind. This is a free country." + +"Of course," assented Frank, with a laugh. "We'll go together and have +some fun." + +"Oh, I'm going on business." + +"That's too bad." + +"Well, it's business connected with fun," explained Dick. "Maybe I'll +have a chance to see the show with you later." + +"See the show! Why, that's the main object of going to Parkertown," +responded Frank. "I wouldn't miss it for anything. They've got a fellow +in it, according to the pictures, who can stand on his head, hold a man +in each hand, balance two others on his legs, hold one by a strap in +his mouth--and all the while he's on a trapeeze at the top of the tent. +It's great!" + +"Well, maybe he can give you a few pointers," said Dick. + +It was about an hour's run to Parkertown, and when the train reached the +circus grounds there was a general rush to the big tents. It lacked +about an hour to noon, and though the show had not opened yet there was +much of interest to see. Dick and Frank watched the men putting +finishing touches to the immense canvas shelters, while others were +feeding the animals, getting the big gilded wagons into place, and +arranging the sideshows. + +In one tent hundreds of the performers and helpers were at dinner, while +a curious crowd looked on under the raised flaps. The two boys, in +company with scores of others, watched the cooks of the circus at work +over the portable ranges and soup kettles, where it seemed as though +enough food for an army was being prepared. + +"Say, it's great, isn't it!" exclaimed Frank. "I can hardly wait until +it's time to begin. Let's go get a hot frankfurter sausage somewhere." + +"I'm afraid I've got to leave you," replied Dick. "I have some business +on hand. I'll see you later. Maybe in the main tent." + +"All right," assented Frank, a little disappointed, but he soon forgot +about that in watching the many scenes of interest. + +"Where can I find the manager?" asked Dick, of a man who wore a uniform +and seemed to be some one in authority. + +"In the ticket wagon," was the reply. "But you needn't think you can +deadhead in. The free list is suspended." + +"I've no intention of asking for a pass," replied Dick, with a smile. +"Is the manager in?" he asked, a moment later, of the man who looked out +of the high ticket wagon. + +"I guess so. What do you want?" + +"I want to see him in regard to the next town where he is to play." + +"Who is it?" inquired a voice from within the vehicle. + +"Some lad from our next town. Maybe the mayor's sent to say he's going +to raise the license fee. I never see such a hold-up game as these +country mayors try to pull off," and the ticket seller looked disgusted. + +"No, I'm not from the mayor," said Dick. "I want to see the manager on +my own account." + +At this another man joined the one at the ticket window. He was large +and fat, and wore a red necktie, in which sparkled a pin with a large +stone. He had on a tall hat and a frock coat. + +"Come around to the side door," he said, in no very gracious tones, and +Dick noticed that a pair of steps at the side gave access to the wagon. +He was soon inside the place, which was fitted up like a small office, +with desks, and even a typewriter, at which a young man was busy +pounding the keys. + +"What is it?" asked the manager, abruptly. + +"I've come to see if you won't give a show in Hamilton Corners," began +Dick. "I think the town would like to see it." + +"Maybe the town would, but I wouldn't," replied the manager quickly. +"I'm not in business for my health. I want to make a little money, and +Hamilton Corners is too small. We couldn't clear expenses." + +"How much do you have to clear to make it worth your while to show in a +town?" asked Dick. + +"Well, a thousand dollars is fair business." + +"If you were sure of a thousand dollars clear, would you come to +Hamilton Corners?" + +"Yes, or any place else within traveling distance. But what are you? A +newspaper reporter? If you are, you want to see our press agent. He's in +that tent over there." + +"No, I want to do business with you," rejoined Dick, with a smile. "I +live in Hamilton Corners. I'd like to see a circus there. In fact, I'm +willing to pay for having one come there. I have a certain reason for +it. If I give you a thousand-dollar guarantee will you bring the show +there?" + +"Yes, of course." + +The manager seemed a little dazed. Dick drew out a thin red book. + +"I'll give you the guarantee now," he said. "Can you come to-morrow?" +and he began to use his fountain pen. "Whom shall I make it out to?" and +he looked at the manager. + +"Say," suddenly whispered the manager to the ticket seller. "Is the +marshall out there? He is? All right. Call him here." Then in soothing +tones he spoke to Dick. "That's all right," he said. "Never mind the +check. We'll come to Hamilton Corners, anyhow. Now don't get excited. +Here, take a drink of water and you'll feel better. The sun is very hot +to-day. In fact, it makes my head buzz. Just put that red book away. Red +is very heating, you know." + +He paused, and looked rather helplessly about him. Then in a whisper he +again asked the ticket seller: + +"Is the marshall there? Tell him to come in before he gets violent." + +The side door opened, and a town marshall, with a big nickel-plated star +on his coat, entered the wagon. + +"What's the matter?" asked Dick, somewhat surprised at the sudden turn +of events. + +"There! there!" spoke the manager, soothingly. "It's all right. Don't +get excited. You're with friends." + +"Don't you want this check?" asked Dick. "I'm in earnest. I want your +circus to come to Hamilton Corners." + +"Yes, yes, of course, my dear boy. We'll come. I'll let you ride on one +of the elephants. You can feed the monkeys, and tickle the hippopotamus, +if you like. Poor boy," in lower tones, "so young, too." + +"Say," demanded Dick, standing up, "do you think I'm crazy?" + +"There! there!" repeated the manager, in that soothing tone he had +suddenly adopted. "Please don't get excited. It's the worst thing in the +world for you." + +Dick glanced up at the man in uniform. Then a smile came over his face +that had assumed a rather angry look. + +"Why, Marshall Hinckly!" he exclaimed. "How did you come to be here?" + +"Dick Hamilton!" exclaimed the officer in surprise, "I didn't know you +at first. You see the authorities in Parkertown, being a little +short-handed, asked me to help out on circus day, and so I came over +from Hamilton Corners. But what in the name of green turtles is the +trouble here?" + +"I don't know," replied the millionaire's son. "I merely offered to +guarantee this manager a thousand dollars if he would bring his circus +to Hamilton Corners, and he acts as though he thought I was crazy." + +"And isn't he?" burst out the manager, less frightened, now that an +officer of the law was present. "Isn't he, Mr. Policeman? The idea of a +boy like him offering to make out a check for a thousand dollars to +have a circus come to town! In the first place, I don't believe he has +the money; and in the second, what does he want to hire a circus for? +Say, honest, hasn't he got away from some asylum?" + +"Dick Hamilton broke out of an asylum!" exclaimed the marshall. "Well, I +rather guess not! As for him not having the money, you're wrong there. +Why, that's Mortimer Hamilton's son," and he showed his pride at being +acquainted with Dick. + +"Mortimer Hamilton, president of the Hamilton National Bank?" asked the +manager, incredulously. + +"That's him," replied the marshall. + +"Say!" exclaimed the manager rather faintly, sitting limply down in a +chair. "Give me a glass of water, will you, please. Mortimer Hamilton, +the multi-millionaire! And I thought his son didn't have a thousand +dollars! Excuse me, Mr. Hamilton," he said, heartily, as he held out his +hand to Dick. "I beg your pardon." + +"That's all right," replied Dick, with a smile. "Whom shall I make the +check out to?" + +"Me," replied the manager. "Wellington Dappleton. But say," he added, +"would you mind telling me what you want of the circus?" + +"I'll tell you," answered Dick, with something of a serious air. "When I +was out walking this morning I saw a procession from the orphan asylum. +I heard about the circus being over here, and I knew those poor +youngsters couldn't go. I made up my mind that if I could, I'd have the +circus come to town and I'd take those kids free. It's the only chance +they'll ever get, maybe, and I--well, I've got plenty of money. I can +just as well spend some of it this way as in having a good time myself. +When can you come?" + +"We'll be there to-morrow and play the afternoon and evening," said the +manager. "And I'll tell you what I'll do. You needn't make out that +check now. We'll wait until after the last performance, and all I'll ask +you to do will be to make good whatever I'm short of a thousand-dollar +profit. Maybe we can get enough admissions in the town to make up part +of the sum. I'll not see a lad do the only good turn in these parts. +I'll meet you half way, and there's my hand on it," and once more he +gripped Dick's fingers in a hold that made them tingle. + +"But the orphans come in free," insisted Dick. + +"The orphans come in free," repeated the manager, "and any other boys or +girls you like. We'll only charge the grown folks." + +So it was arranged. Dick and the manager had a long talk, so long that +Dick had time only to see the closing acts in the big tent. + +"Well, you missed it," said Frank, as he met Dick on his way out. "You +should have seen that fellow hold all those others. It was great! I'm +going to join a circus." + +"Better wait," advised Dick, with a smile. "Have a talk with that +acrobat. The show is coming to Hamilton Corners to-morrow, and you can +ask him how he likes the life." + +"The show coming to Hamilton Corners?" + +"Yes," and then Dick told of the arrangements. + +Hamilton Corners hardly knew itself when it awoke the next morning. The +town was gay with many colored posters, showing fierce animals wandering +together over vast treeless plains, and many-hued lithographs of men +risking their lives on the high trapeze. Before the boys had fairly +gotten the idea into their heads that the circus was coming the +cavalcade of wagons began arriving. Dick had seen the town authorities +and secured the necessary permits. Then Hamilton Corners really woke up +as the news became known that Dick was responsible for the whole affair. + +"Say, he spends money like water," observed Simon to Guy. "I wish I had +some of what he's throwing away." + +"I suppose you'd buy oil stock with it," observed Guy, with a peculiar +smile. Simon did not answer. + +The orphans at the asylum--hundreds of them--could hardly believe the +joyous news when, after Dick had told those in charge, it was announced +to them by the matrons. Some of the poor little tots cried in very +happiness. One little boy, who remembered once seeing some of the gay +lithographs of a circus, was discovered running around in a circle. + +"What are you doing?" asked a matron. + +"Playing I'm a circus horse," was the answer. "I'se got to do suffin to +make de time pass. I'm so happy!" + +Long before the time set for the performance, crowds of boys and girls +were headed for the big tents. Dick had generously arranged so that no +boy or girl need pay, and hundreds of those in Hamilton Corners, as well +as those in the surrounding suburbs, besides the orphans, saw the show +free. + +Dick wanted to go off with some of his chums and view the performance, +but the head matron of the asylum asked him to sit with her in the midst +of her little charges. + +"They want to see you," she explained. "They think you own the circus, +and that you are the most wonderful person in the world." + +"Oh, pshaw! It isn't anything at all," declared Dick, with a blush. "I +just happened to think of it when I saw the little children out walking +and saw how sad some of 'em looked. Besides, it's time we had a circus +in Hamilton Corners." + +The antics of the clowns, the "hair-raising, death-defying evolutions in +mid-air," as the programme called them, the performing horses and +elephants, the pony races, the chariot contests, the trick dogs, pigs, +monkeys, and other animals, the glittering pageant, the music and +excitement--all this was as a happy dream to the orphans. They sat in +ecstasy, now and then some of them looking at Dick, who sat in their +midst, as though, like some good fairy, they feared he might disappear +any minute. + +"Well," remarked the manager to Dick in the library of the Hamilton +mansion, when the show was over. "You had your circus all right. I guess +about four hundred dollars will square us. There were quite a few paid +admissions." + +"There's your check," answered Dick, passing over a slip of paper, and +the manager took his departure. + +That night, as the rumble of circus wagons leaving the town came faintly +to the ears of Dick and his father, as they sat in the library, Mr. +Hamilton remarked: + +"Well, did you get your money's worth, Dick?" + +"I certainly did, dad. The look on the faces of those orphans was worth +twice as much as I spent." + +"Still, you might have invested four hundred dollars in some business +and gotten large returns from it." + +"I invested it in happiness, dad," was Dick's answer. + +And then Mr. Hamilton turned away, loving his son more than ever. But +still he wondered if Dick would ever be able to fulfil the conditions of +his mother's will. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +"HANK" DARBY IN BUSINESS + + +Hamilton Corners did not cease talking of the circus, and Dick's part in +it, for several weeks. Among the boys, Dick was more of a hero than ever +and many were his champions. Only Simon and Guy sneered, but they took +care to do it when no one else was present. The truth was, Simon hated +to see Dick spend money unless he had a chance to get some of it, and, +since the failure of the bond scheme, this did not seem very likely to +happen. + +For Mr. Hamilton had warned his son not to get too intimate with Simon. +A youth, he said, who had as a friend a man of the character of Colonel +Dendon was not a safe chum. Dick promised not to have too much to do +with either Simon or Guy, but he was too independent a boy to cut them +altogether. + +"Are you going to be busy this afternoon, dad?" asked Dick of his father +one morning. "Because if you're not, I'd like to come down to the bank +and talk over a little business with you. I think it's about time I made +some large investment in order to comply with mother's will, and I want +to ask your advice." + +"Come along," answered Mr. Hamilton, good-naturedly. "I will aid you all +I can, but I'd rather you would learn to depend on yourself. Experience +is the best teacher, but her lessons come a trifle high." + +Several days previous to this Dick had been in correspondence with a New +York firm, and he wanted some advice before he went any further into a +certain scheme. Accordingly, at the time appointed, he went to his +father's bank, carrying a lot of printed matter and some letters. + +"Well, what is it?" asked Mr. Hamilton, when he and his son were seated +in the private office. + +"I was thinking of investing in this company, formed to supply a new +kind of preserved milk," said Dick. "Some one has discovered a process +by which milk can be made to keep a long time, and yet it tastes like +fresh. They state that the milk problem, in big cities, is one that many +have tried to solve. By their method any family can have fresh milk with +little trouble, and it is almost as cheap as that which comes right from +a cow. Of course, in a big city it's impossible to supply fresh milk to +everyone. + +"They are offering to sell some stock cheap, and it is guaranteed to +double in value in six months. They are all ready to put the milk on the +market. I was thinking of investing some money in this concern. What do +you think of it?" + +Mr. Hamilton looked over the mass of circulars, statements of the +business that could be done in New York alone, to say nothing of the +rest of the country, and glanced at the pictures of machines for making +the milk so it would keep for a long time, without ice, even in the +hottest weather. + +"Well, Dick," he said slowly. "This company has some well-known men +connected with it, and the scheme looks all right. That is as far as you +can tell from this. If you want to invest some of your money in it I +have no objections. How much did you figure on?" + +"I thought about five thousand dollars." + +Mr. Hamilton uttered a low whistle. + +"I'd say two thousand," he remarked. "If you find it's good you can put +the other three in later. Better go slow on a new thing. Of course, I +don't know anything about it, and if it fails I don't want you to hold +me responsible. I'm willing that you should try it--that's all." + +"Then I'll send for two thousand dollars' worth of stock," decided Dick; +and he made out a check, had it certified, and sent it to New York. + +"Now that's done, and I'm in a fair way to make a large profit, I think +I'll begin to look around for something else," he said. "It's a good +thing to have several investments; isn't it, dad? I think I've heard you +say not to have all your eggs in one basket." + +"That's right," assented Mr. Hamilton. "Only you want to be sure you +have good eggs, and not bad ones; also, that the baskets are strong +enough to carry them." + +At that moment there came a knock on the door of the private office, and +when Mr. Hamilton had called out an invitation to enter, Archibald +Spreckles McIverson, to give him his complete name, the messenger of the +bank, announced: + +"A gentleman to see you, Mr. Hamilton. I beg your pardon for +interrupting you, but he says his business is very important and he will +not detain you long. He also wishes to see Mr. Dick, and he has a young +man with him." + +"Show him in," said Mr. Hamilton. "Must be somebody with money," he +added to his son as the messenger departed, "or McIverson would never be +so puffed up. He loves to announce anyone whom he believes is wealthy, +but I don't know of anyone, with any great amount of cash, who is coming +to see me to-day." + +"Mr. Henry Darby, senior and junior," announced Archibald Spreckles +McIverson with a grand air, as he held the door of the private office +open so that "Hank" Darby and Henry might enter. Then McIverson softly +closed the portal. + +"Ahem!" remarked Hank, almost as pompously as had the bank messenger. +"Fine day, Mr. Hamilton." + +Dick looked at Henry's father in amazement. The man was dressed in a new +suit of black, and wore a silk hat. He had a necktie of vivid purple, +and a red pink was in his buttonhole. He took off his tall hat and wiped +his shining bald head with a big red silk handkerchief. No wonder he had +impressed McIverson. Henry looked a little embarrassed, but Dick nodded +at him in a friendly way, and made room for him on the sofa upon which +he was sitting. + +"I have called upon a little matter of business," said Mr. Darby, +carefully depositing his hat on the carpet. "I and my son here," and he +nodded in Henry's direction. "I may also add that your son is +interested--er--to a considerable extent. In fact, I may say to an equal +extent with ourselves." + +"I wonder what's coming?" thought Mr. Hamilton, who had never seen Hank +so well dressed, and who knew the man to be the laziest fellow in +Hamilton Corners. + +"Your son, Mr. Hamilton," went on Hank Darby, with a grand air that was +strangely in contrast with his former attitude when one met him about +town, "your son, I may state, has been the means of doing something +which I long have desired to see done. He has enabled me and my son to +start in business--a business that, while it is small, is capable of +enormous possibilities--_enormous possibilities_," and Mr. Darby looked +as if he would puff up like a balloon and float out of the window. + +"In short," he went on, "he has loaned my son two hundred and fifty +dollars, for which Henry has given his note. Of course, that is no +legal security, and when I heard about it I at once set about putting +the matter on a business basis." + +"I don't understand," said Mr. Hamilton. + +"Henry is in the old iron business, dad," explained Dick. + +"Exactly," went on Mr. Darby. "The old metal business, to be more exact. +I am also in it with him. Between us we have formed a company--a +corporation to be more exact. I have called it The International and +Consolidated Old Metal Corporation. We have a capital stock of one +million dollars----" + +"With two hundred and twenty-five paid in," interrupted Henry, with a +smile. "Dad took twenty-five of your two hundred and fifty, Dick, to get +himself some new clothes." + +"Exactly," interrupted Mr. Darby. "As president of the International and +Consolidated Old Metal Corporation I felt that it was due to the public +to look the part. I don't mind old clothes myself, but the public is apt +to judge a man by them. So I bought these. I think it will go a great +way in impressing the public; do you not agree with me, sir?" + +"Perfectly," answered Mr. Hamilton, trying not to smile. + +"So you are president?" asked Dick. + +"I am," replied Mr. Darby, with a grand air. "I am the president and +you, sir, are the treasurer," and he bowed to Dick. "It is with your +capital that we--my son and I--have been able to make this humble +beginning. But all things must have a beginning. The possibilities are +enormous, sir--_enormous_!" and once more Mr. Darby swelled up. "We are +going to begin active operations at once, sir; in fact, my son has +already begun them. We expect to do a large trade in metals of all +description. I shall devote my time to the market abroad in a few weeks, +as I shall have exhausted the possibilities on this side of the +Atlantic. Then, sir, we shall be truly what the name indicated, +_international_!" + +"What do you do, Henry?" asked Dick. + +"Me? Oh, I drive the wagon, collect the old iron and sell it again," +said the lad, with just the suspicion of a smile, as he glanced in his +father's direction. "I bought out old Moses Cohen, and he had a horse +and wagon, which I took. + +"At least, it's called a horse and wagon in the mortgage which I had to +sign," went on Henry, "but sometimes I have my doubts about both," and +he laughed a little. "However, it will do for a while--until I can make +money enough to get a better rig." + +"Yes, we are going a bit slow at first," put in Mr. Darby. "As soon as I +get things in good shape I shall take a trip to England. I understand +they use a great deal of iron there. Perhaps I shall buy up a large +amount abroad and ship it here. I have a number of schemes on as soon as +I get this one in such shape that Henry can run it--with the assistance +of Mr. Dick, of course," he hastened to add. + +"What we came here for to-day," said Henry, "was to give you these +papers, Dick," and he handed over a large bundle. + +"What are they?" asked Mr. Hamilton. + +"The prospectus and incorporation papers of The International and +Consolidated Old Metal Corporation," interrupted Mr. Darby. "I drew them +up myself, and I know they are right. They show the interest you have in +the concern," turning to Dick, "and your interests are fully looked +after. I wish, also, to endorse the note my son gave you." + +"It isn't necessary," declared Dick. + +"Pardon me, young man, but it is," insisted Mr. Darby. "Business is +business," he continued, with a grand air, and, when Dick produced the +note, Mr. Darby, with a flourish, put his name on the back of it. + +"It has doubled in value," he remarked, without the ghost of a smile. +"Now, our matters being concluded, I will bid you good-afternoon," he +said, and with a low bow to Mr. Hamilton and Dick, he backed out, +attended by McIverson. + +"If he'd let Henry alone the business might amount to something," +commented Mr. Hamilton when the visitors had gone. + +"Yes, the idea of his taking some of the money to buy a new suit," +observed Dick. "Well, I guess Henry can manage it if he only has half a +chance." + +"I wouldn't give you much for that note," said Mr. Hamilton. + +"You'll not discount it; eh, dad?" + +"Not much! It's worse than ever since Hank put his signature on it. I +guess your two hundred and fifty dollars are gone." + +"Never mind, I helped Henry, anyhow. Maybe he'll pull through. He's a +hard worker." + +"Gentleman to see you, sir," interrupted McIverson, putting his head +into the office. "Says he has an appointment with you." + +"What is the name?" asked Mr. Hamilton. + +"Mr. Franklin Vanderhoof," announced the messenger, with a rolling tone +that denoted the person to be of apparent importance. + +"Oh, yes. I'd forgotten. I'll see him at once. Dick, will you excuse me. +I have some business to discuss with Mr. Vanderhoof." + +As Dick bade his father good-bye and left the office he saw entering it +a man, well dressed, and with a very black moustache. At the sight of +the man's face Dick started. + +"Where have I seen him before?" the youth asked himself. "There is +something strange about that man. I wish I knew what his business was." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +GOLD MINE STOCK + + +Dick looked sharply at the stranger as he passed the man. Mr. Vanderhoof +smiled, but when he did Dick thought the attempted pleasantry resembled +the grin of a cat when it is about to pounce upon a helpless mouse. With +a scarcely perceptible nod to Dick, Mr. Vanderhoof entered Mr. +Hamilton's private office and closed the door. + +"I've seen you before, I'm sure of it," mused Dick, as he left the bank. +"I can't just think where, but there's something familiar about you. I +don't like your looks, though I suppose you must be all right or dad +wouldn't have much to do with you. I must ask him about you." + +Dick found an opportunity a few evenings later. He saw his father +looking over some papers in the library at home, and, going in, inquired +if Mr. Hamilton was busy. + +"Not very," replied the millionaire. "I'm just looking over some new +stock I bought to-day. Dick, I'm part owner in a gold mine, in addition +to my many other lines of industry," and he laughed pleasantly. + +"A gold mine, dad?" + +"Yes, a gold mine in--let's see where is it now--oh, in Yazoo City, +Nevada. Of course, I don't own the whole mine, I've only bought some +stock in it. There it is. I own a thousand shares in the Hop Toad Mine, +and I hope they do as toads do, and 'jump' in value." + +"A gold mine," repeated Dick. "That would suit me. Why didn't I think of +it before." + +"How do you mean, Dick?" + +"I mean, why didn't I invest in something like that." + +"Well, it's not too late, I suppose." + +"Do you mean I can get some shares, dad?" + +"I don't know that you can in the Hop Toad Mine, as I understand they're +all sold out, but I guess Mr. Vanderhoof has shares in other mines just +as good." + +"Oh, is that what Mr. Vanderhoof is--a mining man?" + +"Well, not exactly a mining man. He sells stock in mines. He's what they +call a promoter. Why, do you know him?" + +"No, but somehow his face seemed familiar. I was sure that day I saw him +in the bank that I had met him somewhere else, but when I tried to think +I couldn't recall anyone with such a black moustache as he has." + +"It is black," admitted Mr. Hamilton. + +"And when he smiles he looks like--a cat," went on Dick. + +"I can't say that I fancy his looks," agreed the millionaire, with a +chuckle. "But I don't do business on looks. I go by facts." + +"Is this mining stock good?" + +"I think so. I wrote to some men in Yazoo City and I made other +investigations, so that I think it as safe an investment as any are in +these days. Of course, nothing is a sure thing in this world, but I +believe this Hop Toad Mine has one of the richest veins of ore of any +mine in that vicinity." + +"Then I'm going to invest some of my money in a gold mine," decided +Dick. "Where can I find Mr. Vanderhoof?" + +"He'll be at the bank to-morrow and you can see him there. Remember, you +are doing this on your own responsibility, and if it turns out a failure +you've got to chalk it up against yourself." + +"All right, dad." + +"It will be an experience for the boy, anyhow," murmured the +millionaire, as his son left the room. "He's got to learn, the same as I +did. I think between his mother's will, his Uncle Ezra, and what I can +show him, we'll make a fine man of him in spite of his wealth, which is +a mighty handicap--a mighty handicap," and shaking his head doubtfully +Mr. Hamilton proceeded to look over some business papers, which task he +was at when Dick went to bed. + +Dick received a letter the next morning which rather disquieted him. It +was from the firm of whom he had purchased his milk stock, and informed +him that owing to certain contingencies in the market they were obliged +to ask for an assessment on his stock. + +"What's an assessment on stock, dad?" he asked of his father, when he +had called at the bank and shown the letter to Mr. Hamilton. + +"It means that the company needs more money to run the business, and +that you, being part of the company, have to put up your share. Let's +see, they want a hundred dollars from you. Well, I guess you'll have to +pay it." + +"But that's a queer way to do business," grumbled Dick. "I thought I was +going to make money, and, instead, I have to pay out more." + +"Oh, well, new concerns frequently have to call for an assessment, +instead of paying dividends," consoled his father. "The stock may pay +well yet. Milk is something every family has to have, you know, and they +have to have it every day. The company may be all right when it gets +well started. I wouldn't worry now. I've had to pay assessments on many +a stock that afterward turned out well." + +"I'm glad I thought of that gold mine stock," said Dick. "I guess that +will be the best thing yet. When will Mr. Vanderhoof be here?" + +"Almost any minute now. Ah, there he comes," and, as Mr. Hamilton spoke, +the man with the very black moustache came down the corridor that led +to the private office and walked through the open doorway. + +"Ah, two captains of industry," he remarked, with a nod at Dick and his +father. "The young and the--ah--er--I was about to say old--I will +change it to junior and senior," with a bow to Mr. Hamilton. + +"Dick thinks he'd like to buy some gold mine stock," said the +millionaire. "I telephoned you about it, you recall, and explained my +son's position." + +"I understand," remarked Mr. Vanderhoof. "He wants to make a good paying +investment." + +"That's it," put in Dick, as he thought of his Uncle Ezra and what would +happen if he did not comply with the terms of his mother's will. + +"Well, I think I can find him some good stock," went on the promoter. +"It won't be in the same mine you're in, Mr. Hamilton. That stock was +too valuable to last long. But I have some nearly as good. It is in the +same neighborhood. In fact, it is in the next mine to the Hop Toad--the +Dolphin. We think it very good. You can make the same inquiries that you +did in regard to the other stock. It will bear the closest +investigation." + +"We'll take it, subject to a report from Yazoo City," said Mr. Hamilton, +with a look at Dick, who nodded an assent, for he knew very little about +buying stock. + +"Then I suppose you'll pay enough to bind the bargain?" asked Mr. +Vanderhoof. + +"Of course," replied Dick, producing his check book. "How much?" + +"Five hundred dollars will do as a starter. But about how much stock +would you want?" + +"Oh, I guess two thousand dollars' worth will do," replied Dick, with a +look at his father, who, by a nod of his head, assented. + +Mr. Vanderhoof smiled, looking, Dick thought, more than ever like a cat +about to pounce on a mouse, and when the check was made out the promoter +handed him a document, showing that he was entitled to a certain number +of shares of stock in a gold mine bearing the name Dolphin. + +"Well, Dick," remarked his father, when Mr. Vanderhoof had left, "you +are certainly getting right into business. How do you like it?" + +"Very much. I only hope some of my investments pan out." + +"Well, you haven't made very many, but what you have gone into you have +loaded up pretty well with. However, that may be a good way. Of course, +if they fail, the money loss will not make much difference to you, but I +don't want to see you lose. It would show a poor head for business if +you did, and I hope you haven't got that." + +"So do I," remarked his son. "Oh, I'm going to make a success some way +or other," and once more the vision of his uncle's home, the gloomy +house set in the midst of the dark fir trees, like some residence in a +cemetery, came to him as the memory of a bad dream. + +"Where are you going now?" asked his father, as Dick started to leave +the private office. + +"I thought I'd take a ride with some of the boys in my motor boat. I +haven't been out for some time." + +"All right, only be careful." + +"I will, dad. Good-bye." + +Dick stopped, on his way home, and called for Bricktop, Frank Bender and +Walter Mead, inviting them to go for a ride in his trim little craft, +which was in the boat house on Lake Dunkirk. + +"Let's take our lunch and stay the rest of the day," suggested Bricktop. +"It's too fine out doors to be around the house." + +"Good idea," assented Dick. "I'll have our cook put us up a basket of +stuff." + +The eyes of the other boys glistened, for they knew from experience the +good things that came from the Hamilton kitchen, and they had visions of +cold chicken and turkey, fine cakes and big, thick, juicy pies. + +As Dick and his friends entered the side yard, they saw, standing on the +driveway, a rather dilapidated wagon, drawn by a very bony horse. In the +wagon was something covered with a sheet, while on the seat sat a +grizzled, dried-up sort of a man, with a little bunch of whiskers on his +chin. Beside him was a woman in a calico dress, and she looked worried. + +"Are you Mr. Richard Hamilton?" asked the man, looking at Bricktop. + +"No; he is," was the answer, and Bricktop pointed at Dick. + +"Hum! Well, I'm glad to meet you. I've been waitin' some time, an' the +hired man, the one with his shirt front all showin', where his vest is +wore out (for thus he described the butler's dress suit), said he didn't +know when you'd come home. But I brought it along with me, jest as I +said I would, an' I'll show ye how it works. Mandy, jest hold th' hoss +until I git th' machine out," and though the animal did not seem in need +of any restraint the woman grasped the reins her husband gave her. + +Then, before Dick could remonstrate, the man got down from the wagon, +and began tugging at the object covered with a sheet. It seemed quite +heavy. + +"Would one of you young gentlemen mind givin' me a hand?" he asked, and +Walter and Frank assisted him in lifting the object down to the ground. + +"There ye be!" exclaimed the man, in an excited manner, while his eyes +glittered in a strange way. "There she is. Now watch, everybody, when +she gits goin'. Mandy, drive th' hoss up towards th' stable; it might +git frightened. + +"Now," he went on, "ye're about t' witness one of th' wonders of th' +age. Look out, everybody!" and, with a flourish, he pulled the sheet +away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +DICK'S BRAVE ACT + + +"Hold on!" cried Dick, as he saw revealed a maze of wheels, levers, +belts and cranks. "What is this? Who are you?" + +For an instant he thought the thing might be an infernal machine. + +"Who am I?" asked the man. "Why, I'm Silas Kendall, of Manlius Centre, +an' this is my perpetual motion machine. Wait until I take th' chain off +so's it can git inter motion an' ye'll open yer eyes, I reckon." + +"Is it dangerous?" asked Bricktop, preparing to run. + +"Not a bit, if ye don't put yer fingers in th' wheels. It wouldn't harm +a baby." + +He drew from his pocket a key, which he proceeded to insert into a big +lock that held together the ends of a chain which was twisted about the +biggest wheel on the machine. + +"Have t' keep it chained up," he said, with a queer sort of smile, "or +it would keep on workin' all th' while. I'll show ye--Silas +Kendall--he'll astonish th' world. Ye got my letter, I reckon," turning +to Dick. + +"Letter? No. What letter?" + +"Th' one I writ ye about this machine." + +"I don't remember--oh, yes," added Dick, quickly. He did recall among +the many letters he had received recently (begging epistles most of +them), one in which the writer said he would soon call to exhibit a new +machine he had invented, and one which was destined to make all +interested in it rich for life. But Dick thought it was just like lots +of other missives he had been receiving from cranks since the advent of +his wealth, and he threw it away. Now, it seemed, the letter was from +Mr. Kendall. + +"Is that really a perpetual motion machine?" asked Frank, who, with the +other boys, was much interested in such things. + +"Of course it is," replied the man. "I invented it all by myself. I'll +tell ye a little about it before I unchain th' critter an' let it git t' +work. Did ye fasten th' hoss, Mandy?" he asked, as his wife approached. + +"Yep, Silas. Now, do be careful of that contraption. I ain't got no +faith in it," she said, turning to the boys. + +"No, that's jest th' way with wimmin," remarked Silas. "Yet I really +invented it for her." + +"How?" asked Dick. + +"Wa'al, I was watchin' her churn one day, an' I thought how awful it was +that wimmin had t' work so hard. So I decided, if I could invent a +machine that would do th' work it would be a great labor-savin' device. +Wa'al, I went t' work on it----" + +"An' he never give up fer a year," interrupted his wife. "He neglected +th' farm until it ain't worth shucks. He spent all he had saved up t' +buy machinery, an' he ain't hardly slept nights with worryin' over +perpetual motion. I wish he'd throw it away an' go back t' farmin'. He +made money that way." + +"Farmin's too hard work, Mandy," joined in Mr. Kendall. "We'll be rich +now, fer this machine is destined t' revolutionize th' world. I come, +jest as I writ ye," he went on, turning to Dick, "t' give ye th' fust +chance t' git stock in th' new company I'm goin' t' form t' make th' +machines. They don't cost much, and we'll be millionaires in a year. If +you've got a leetle t' invest you'll git big dividends out of this." + +"Let's see how it works," suggested Walter. + +"All right," assented Silas. "I'm goin' t' unchain th' perpetual motion +machine. She'll begin t' whizz as soon as I take th' shackles off, an' +then--wa'al, watch out, that's all." + +He sprung open the padlock with a click and the chain rattled to the +ground. As it did so Mr. Kendall sprang back, as though the machine +might bite him. He stooped down and peered toward it as if it might +spring at him. But nothing happened. The machine was as motionless as a +hitching post. + +"Hum! Suthin's wrong," murmured the inventor. "Guess it got a leetle +stiff comin' over in th' wagon. I'll jest give it a start. Where's a +pole? Mandy, git me a clothes pole." + +His wife went to the back yard, where she had noticed some, and while +she was gone the boys looked at the apparatus. + +It consisted of a big wheel, with spokes made in zig-zag fashion. The +spokes were shaped like a trough and contained a number of metal balls, +which were prevented from falling out, as the wheel turned, by some +strips of wood. + +There were other smaller wheels connected with the big one, and a tall +chute, with a sort of endless chain, to which were attached hooks and +buckets. There were also several heavy springs. + +"Ye see th' way it works," explained Mr. Kendall, "is by them balls. +They roll down the spokes of th' wheel, toward the tire, so t' speak, +an', of course, their weight makes th' wheel go 'round. Then, when they +git t' th' end of th' spokes they drop out an' roll toward th' high +chute. Soon as th' balls git thar th' endless chain an' th' hooks an' +buckets on it catches hold of th' balls an' lifts 'em t' th' top. Then +they drop inter th' hollow spokes agin an' th' same process goes on over +agin. It goes on forever, like th' brook that poetry feller writ +about--I forgit his name. It's perpetual motion as sure as ye're a foot +high. Ah, here comes Mandy with th' clothes pole. Now I'll jest give th' +big wheel a start, 'count of it gittin' stuck, an' you'll see suthin' +worth watchin'." + +With the long clothes pole Silas gave the big wheel a cautious poke. It +began to move slowly, and he released a big spring. + +"Stand back, everybody!" he called. "She vibrates suthin' terrible when +she gits goin', an' I don't want nobody t' git hurt!" + +At first the wheel barely turned. Silas gave it another prod with the +clothes pole and it moved more quickly. Then it released another spring +and began to gather speed. Faster and faster it went, the iron balls +rolling along the hollow spokes and dropping out with a noise like +distant thunder. + +"There she goes!" cried the old man, his chin whiskers vibrating in the +intensity of his excitement. "There she goes!" + +Faster and faster the wheel whizzed around. The balls began dropping +with such a continuous noise that one had to shout to be heard. + +"How do you stop it?" called Dick. + +"No, it won't stop," replied Mr. Kendall, misunderstanding the question. + +"Well, how you going to get it home?" shouted Bricktop. + +"Oh, when I want to stop it I jest throw th' chain at it, an' it tangles +up in th' wheel, an' slows up enough so I can fasten it. If I didn't it +would go on--forever--jest like that there brook." + +The machine did seem to be working well, although only on account of +the strong springs. The balls, as they rolled down the inclined spokes, +imparted a swift motion to the wheel. The released balls ran down an +incline to the foot of the chute, and the lifting belt began to slowly +turn over on the wheels on which it worked. Then something happened. + +Whether Silas had not built his machine strong enough to stand the +strain, or whether the perpetual motion was too much for it, was never +disclosed. At any rate, when the big wheel was revolving at a rapid +rate, and the balls were dropping out like immense hail stones, there +was a sudden rending, splitting, breaking and cracking of wood. Then the +machine seemed to creak and groan in agony. Next there was a snapping +sound and the air was filled with a shower of black iron balls, as +though a bombshell had burst. + +"Duck, everybody!" yelled Dick. "The thing's exploded!" + +The machine fairly flew apart, splinters of wood, bits of iron, belts, +spokes, chute, inclines and everything was scattered to the thirty-two +points of the compass. + +"Oh, Silas!" exclaimed Mrs. Kendall. "There it goes!" + +"Yep," answered Silas, as he ran to get under a tree. "Thar she goes, +sure enough, Mandy!" + +There sounded dull thuds as the balls struck the earth. Fortunately no +one was hit. Then it began to rain bits of wood. + +"I guess it's all over," said Dick, as he and his chums looked down from +the porch where they had taken refuge. "What happened, Mr. Kendall?" + +"Everything," replied the inventor, in gloomy tones. "I see what th' +matter was. Th' big wheel was too strong for th' rest of th' machine. +Them balls give it too much power an' it jest naturally went to +flinders. I see my mistake now. I'll build it all of iron next time. +Wa'al, they say experience teaches us, an' this sure has been a great +experience!" + +"It sure has, Silas," remarked his wife. "You'd better give it up now, +an' go back t' farmin'. That'll pay." + +"No, sir," replied Silas, firmly. "I'm goin' t' make a perpetual motion +machine before I die, an' don't ye forgit it. I see where I made a +mistake an' I'll profit by it. I don't s'pose ye'll want t' invest any +thin' in it until I make my new model?" he asked Dick. + +"No, I think not," answered the millionaire's son. + +"Wa'al, I'll call on ye agin when I git it rebuilt," promised Silas, as +he piled the bits of his broken machine into the wagon and drove off. + +"Say, Dick, what'll it be next?" asked Walter, as they watched the +disappointed farmer driving away. "I never knew it was so exciting to be +rich." + +"Oh, it's exciting, all right," answered Dick, and he added: "I don't +think that was a real perpetual motion machine. The springs made it +work. But, come on, or it will be too late for our motor boat ride." + +With a big basket, filled with good things to eat, which the cook +obligingly put up for them, the four boys were soon at the dock where +Dick's craft was moored. + +"Let's go to Handell's Island," proposed Bricktop. "I heard there was a +cave there that no one ever got to the end of." + +"That'll be fun. We'll explore it," said Dick, always ready for any sort +of an adventure. + +Heading the boat toward the island, which was about ten miles away, the +boys stretched out on the cushions to enjoy the trip. It was a beautiful +July day, hot enough to make a ride on the lake the height of enjoyment. + +They reached the island in quick time, for the boat was a fast one, but, +to their disappointment, the cave did not prove so mysterious as they +had hoped. They managed to get to the end of it, though the way was +choked with dirt and rocks, and found nothing of interest. + +"This cave is a regular lemon," announced Bricktop. + +"What did you hope for? To find some of Captain Kidd's treasure?" asked +Walter. + +"Well, it might have been used by the Indians once," was the red-haired +youth's answer. "Some day I'm going to bring a lantern and see if I +can't find a few arrow heads or the graves of some dead Indians." + +In spite of their disappointment, the boys managed to have a good time, +to which the fine lunch added not a little. It was getting dusk when +they started for home, with Dick at the steering wheel. + +As they approached the dock at Hamilton Corners they saw, when a mile +away, that the lake in the vicinity of the boat-house was lighted up. + +"What's going on?" asked Walter. + +"Oh, it's carnival night," replied Dick. "I forgot all about it. They're +going to have a procession of boats on the lake. We'll hurry up and join +in. I wish I'd thought to decorate my boat." + +He speeded up the craft, anxious, as were the other boys, to take part +in the water pageant. They bore down on a little fleet of boats, gaily +decorated, and filled with merry, laughing, young persons. The +procession was just forming. + +Suddenly there sounded a sharp report aboard Dick's boat. + +"The motor back-fired," he said. "Take the wheel, Walter, while I look +after it." + +But, a moment later, it was seen that it was no mere back-fire in a +cylinder. A sheet of flame arose from the bottom of the craft. + +"The gasolene tank has exploded!" yelled Dick. "Jump for your lives, +boys! The boat's afire!" + +Above the hissing, crackling flames the motor still puffed away, sending +the boat straight toward a confused flotilla of other craft, the +occupants of which set up screams of terror as they saw what had +happened. + +"Jump!" cried Dick again, as he crawled aft and tried to shut off the +engine. + +Three splashes in the water told that his companions had leaped +overboard and were comparatively out of danger. + +"Come on, Dick!" cried Bricktop, rising to the surface. "Jump, or you'll +be burned to death." + +"I can't!" yelled back Dick, shielding his face from the awful flames +with his arm. "I've got to shut off the engine, or the boat'll run into +some other one and set it afire!" + +Once more he bravely tried to work his way to the engine. He could not +reach the gasolene cock from where he was. He cast a look ahead, and saw +that his boat was approaching, at swift speed, a knot of other boats, +the steersmen of which were too confused to know what to do. Some were +getting out of the way, but others were in the direct course of the +burning craft. + +"What can I do?" Dick asked himself in a hoarse whisper. "I must stop +the boat, or steer it out of the way--but how?" + +He could neither reach the engine nor the wheel, for the fire was now +raging in bow and stern. He stood in a little cockpit amidships, where, +for the moment, there were no flames. + +Dick looked desperately about him. Nearer and nearer his craft shot to +the boats containing girls in their light summer dresses. Once the +burning motor boat touched the craft in which the young women were their +clothes would envelop them in flames. + +"I must stop my boat!" thought Dick, desperately. + +Then a brilliant idea came to him. He gave one look at the whirring +fly-wheel of the motor. Then, seizing a heavy monkey wrench he opened +the jaws and fastened it on a boat hook, so that it stood at right +angles to it. Then he thrust the wrench right into the fly-wheel. + +There was a grinding, crashing sound, and, a moment later, the whizzing +wheel spokes had caught the wrench, and, with resistless force, had +driven it through the bottom of the craft. + +Dick had scuttled his own boat! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +DICK GIVES A PARTY. + + +Lurching to one side, as the water rushed in through the ragged hole in +the bottom, the boat, with Dick in it, began to lose headway. The water +acted as a brake, and, so large was the opening the wrench had torn, +that, in a few seconds, all danger was past of the burning boat +colliding with other craft, the steersmen of which were too bewildered +to get out of the course. + +Foot by foot the scuttled boat sank. The water covered the engine now, +but the motor still kept going, for enough gasolene remained in the pipe +running from the exploded tank to keep it in motion. But the boat was +merely floating along, all speed gone. + +"Jump, Dick!" cried Bricktop, who, with the other boys, was swimming +toward shore. "Jump!" + +Dick stood up in the boat he had sacrificed to save the lives of others. +The water was up to his knees, and, casting a look about him, he +prepared to leap overboard. There was no further need of his remaining, +as his brave deed had accomplished what he intended it should. + +But now a new danger was presented. The blazing gasolene, forced from +the bottom of the boat by the rising water that came through the jagged +hole, was floating on the surface of the lake. All about the sinking +craft was a pool of flame, ten feet in diameter. + +A cry of horror arose from those in the surrounding boats that had +quickly congregated near the scene. The gathering dusk was lighted up by +the licking tongues of flame, which hissed hungrily, as though angry at +being cheated of their prey. + +"Wait!" called a man in a large motor boat. "I'll see if I can't get +near enough to save you." + +He started to steer his craft toward Dick, but the latter cried out: + +"No! Keep away. The gasolene is spreading! I'll jump!" + +He was standing on the gunwale of the boat now, that part alone being +above water. The motor had stopped, and the boat was floating amid a +small sea of flame. In just the little patch where Dick stood there was, +for the present, at least, no fire. + +Dick crouched for a spring. He saw a place where the surrounding ring of +flame was the thinnest, and he aimed for that. He was going to try to +jump across the belt of fire. + +Suddenly he straightened up. Then, with a spring, which lost much of +its power because of the uncertain footing the tilting gunwale gave him, +he launched himself upward and outward. + +Arching his hands over his head to cleave the water, and hoping in his +heart that he would clear the ring of flames, Dick felt himself moving +through the air. Then, with a sudden change in the little breeze that +was blowing, the flames shifted so that they were wider in extent at the +place for which he aimed. Those in the outer fringe of motor boats +caught their breaths as they saw what had happened. Dick was headed for +the center of a leaping mass of fire. + +An instant later he had struck the water, covered with the blazing +gasolene, and had disappeared beneath the surface. + +"Now to save him, if we can!" cried Captain Bailey, of the large motor +boat _Cypress_, as he urged his craft forward. Those in it, as they +approached the outer ring of fire, looked at the luridly illuminated +waters, anxious to catch the first glimpse of Dick. A dark body came to +the surface. Two hands shot out, and Dick made an attempt to swim. But +he ceased almost as soon as he made the first strokes, and sank back, +his head going beneath the waves. + +Then sounded a splash from the stern of the boat. + +"What was that?" cried Captain Bailey. + +"Chandler Norton leaped after him!" was the answer. + +And it was Bricktop who, in swimming to shore, had been picked up by the +_Cypress_, and who had leaped after Dick when he saw him sink back. +Bricktop had removed most of his heavy clothing and shoes, and was more +prepared than any of the others to attempt a rescue. + +It seemed a very long time that both he and Dick were lost to view, but +it was only a few seconds ere Bricktop arose to the surface, one arm +about the unconscious form of the millionaire's son. + +"Help me get him aboard!" Bricktop gasped. "I'm afraid something has +happened to him!" + +Willing hands were extended to raise the silent form. Then, when the +brave rescuer had been pulled over the stern, all speed was made to +shore, which the other two boys had reached some time since in boats +that picked them up. + +Fortunately there was, in the gathering of merrymakers, a physician, who +at once hurried to Dick's side. He carefully examined the youth. + +"I'm afraid he inhaled some of the flames," he said, "or he may have +struck his head on something when he went overboard. We must get him +home, and into bed, as soon as possible." + +There were several automobiles at the lake front, and in one of these +Dick was taken to the Hamilton mansion at a speed which broke the +law--but no one minded that. + +Mr. Hamilton was much startled, but he calmly gave orders to have his +son cared for. Another physician was summoned, and the two worked over +the unconscious form together, while Mr. Hamilton, his face drawn and +white, paced anxiously up and down in the hall outside the room. + +Suddenly there sounded the patter of feet on the stairs, and, a moment +later, something was muzzling Mr. Hamilton's legs, while a gentle whine +begged his attention. + +"What is it, Grit, old boy?" he asked, huskily, as he reached over and +patted the big bulldog's head. "You know something's wrong, don't you? +Well--maybe it--maybe it will be all right." + +The dog whined and sniffed at the door of the room where the unconscious +form of his master lay. + +"No--no--not now, Grit, old boy," said Mr. Hamilton, softly, and Grit +with a look as much as to say that he knew what was going on, stretched +out--a grim guardian at the portal of the silent chamber. + +Then, from the room, came a voice, at the sound of which the dog gave a +joyous bark, and then, as though conscious that he had done wrong, he +changed it to a whine. Mr. Hamilton, with wildly beating heart, heard +his son murmur: + +"Oh, it's cold, so cold! Where am I? Is the fire out? Did I run down any +boats?" + +Then came the calm voices of the doctors, urging their patient to be +quiet. + +But this was more than Grit could do. His whining was like the cry of a +child, and he scratched frantically at the door. + +"That's Grit. Let him in," Dick said, in stronger tones, and Mr. +Hamilton uttered a silent prayer of thanksgiving. The portal was swung +and Grit bounded into the room, followed by the millionaire. One of +Dick's hands hung over the side of the bed, and Grit began licking it +frantically. + +"Good--old Grit," murmured Dick, and Grit was content. + +"How is he?" asked Mr. Hamilton, in a whisper. + +"I'm all right, dad," answered Dick, unexpectedly. + +"Not as bad as we feared," answered one of the physicians. "He has +inhaled no flames, but he struck his head on something as he jumped. +Probably on a bit of floating wreckage. He will be all right after a few +days' rest. But he must be kept quiet. No excitement. I congratulate you +on your brave son, Mr. Hamilton." + +The millionaire silently wrung the hand the physician held out to him. + +"It wasn't anything," murmured Dick, in sleepy tones. "I had to stop the +boat, and the only way I saw was to put a hole in the bottom. Too bad; +it was a fine boat." + +"You can have another, if we can't raise her," interrupted Mr. Hamilton. + +"Then I knew I'd have to swim under water to avoid the flames," went on +Dick. "I held my breath as long as I could, and then I hit something. I +can't remember any more." + +He sank into a doze, with Grit still licking the drooping hand. + +"I think he will sleep now," said the physician who had examined Dick at +the lake. "We will go out, and the dog had better come, too." + +"Come, Grit," called Mr. Hamilton, but Grit paid no attention. + +"I'll bring him," said the physician, as he reached for the bulldog's +collar. Grit growled menacingly. + +"Better not," advised the millionaire. "No one but Dick can do anything +with him." + +So they had to leave Grit there, but he was not in the least in the way, +being content to rest beneath the bed, though whenever anyone--nurse or +doctor--approached, the dog was ever on the watch. + +Dick had to stay in bed three days, and for three days more was a sort +of semi-invalid in an easy-chair. Then, the physicians having pronounced +all danger past, he was allowed to go out. In the meantime the motor +boat was raised and taken away to be repaired. + +"Say, I never knew what nice sunshine and fine air we had in this town," +said the youth to his father, as he walked down the street with him. +"It's worth while being under the weather a bit just to appreciate it +when you get out." + +"I never knew you had so many friends, Dick," answered his father. + +"Friends? How?" + +"Why, we had to keep one of the maids busy answering the bell while you +were in bed. I guess every boy, and lots of the girls, in Hamilton +Corners called to see how you were getting on." + +"I'm glad they thought of me," replied the millionaire's son. "I wish I +could show I appreciate it." + +"Well, I think you can, Dick." + +"How?" + +"I was going to suggest that you hold a little reception--give a sort of +party. That's what we called 'em when I was a boy." + +"The very thing!" exclaimed Dick. "That will be sport. But--where could +I have it?" + +"In the house, of course. Isn't it large enough?" + +"That's just it. It's too big and fine. I'm afraid some of the boys +wouldn't have a good time, for fear of dropping some cake or ice-cream +on the carpets." + +"Well, what would you suggest? You might give it in the barn." + +"I was thinking of hiring a big tent and having a party out doors on the +lawn. That would be unconventional and rather jolly, I think." + +"Good idea," answered the millionaire. "I'll order a tent at once and +see to the refreshments." + +"Let me do that," begged Dick. "I know what boys and girls like to eat." + +"Very well," assented his father, with a laugh. "You can do just as you +please, and--er--send the bills to me." + +"Not much!" exclaimed Dick, proudly. "I'm paying my own way now." + +A week later a big white tent was erected on the spacious lawn at the +Hamilton mansion. Dick had spent a busy seven days in making the +arrangements, and every boy and girl in Hamilton Corners, whom Dick had +the least acquaintance with, was invited. + +Seldom had there been so much excitement in the town, not even when the +circus came, for on this occasion the girls, at least, could "dress up," +and we all know what that means to a girl. Nor were the boys behindhand +in looking over their best suits and putting an extra shine on their +shoes. + +The big tent was gay with Chinese lanterns, and a corps of white-suited +waiters were in attendance to dispense the good things when, as darkness +began to gather, the young people of the town began to assemble at the +party. They came from all directions, some of them awkward and shy, for +it was their first big affair, while others were more self-possessed. + +"Well, are you ready?" asked Simon Scardale, as he called at Guy +Fletcher's house, for both had been invited to the gathering. + +"Yes, but I don't care much about going. We'll have a slow time." + +"Maybe we will, but I've got a little thing I want to plan out, and I +can do it there, I think. The fact is, I need money badly, and I've got +to get some." + +"I hope you're not going to rob the house," remarked Guy, with a nervous +laugh. + +"Of course not, but I've got a scheme that may work. Come along." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE CONSPIRACY + + +Dick stood at the entrance to the tent receiving his guests. He was a +little pale from his recent experience, but otherwise did not seem to +have suffered any ill effects. + +"Well, Bricktop," he called heartily, as the sandy-haired youth +approached, his face almost the color of his locks, "I was afraid you +wouldn't come. If it hadn't been for Bricktop there wouldn't have been +any party here to-night," he went on, turning to a group of young +people. "No, nor any Dick Hamilton, either. He pulled me out in the nick +of time." + +"Oh, pshaw! I didn't do anything," protested Bricktop, who hated praise. + +"I think he was perfectly splendid!" exclaimed Mabel Ford, looking at +Bricktop with her big blue eyes in a way that made that modest hero +blush more fiercely than before. + +"It was perfectly grand!" declared Bertha Lee, known as "Birdy" among +her friends. "How I wish I was a big, strong young man," and she gazed +admiringly at Bricktop. + +"Why not a strong lady," suggested Simon Scardale, with a grin, as he +joined the group. + +At his approach several girls moved away, as they did not like him. Guy +was close in Simon's wake, and both boys nodded to Dick. + +"Feeling pretty fit now, old chap?" asked Simon. + +"Oh, I'm all right," answered Dick. + +"Feel like having a game of billiards?" went on Simon. "I'll bet you ten +dollars I can beat you on your own table." + +"No, thank you," replied Dick, with a laugh. "I'm too busy looking after +my guests to-night. Besides, I don't play for money. Come over some +other time and I'll play you all you like, for fun." + +"Stingy beast," muttered Simon, as Dick moved away to greet some +newcomers, "and I need the money, too." + +"Maybe you'd lose," suggested Guy. + +"I don't play to lose," replied Simon, with an ugly leer. + +The little feeling of strangeness which many of the boys and girls at +first experienced gradually wore off, and soon the party was in full +swing. All sorts of games were played, and Dick and his closest chums +saw to it that there was no lack of liveliness. A number of the fathers +and mothers of the younger children had accompanied them, and to these +older folks Dick was attentive, seeing that they had seats, and sending +the waiters to them to ask if they wouldn't have a cup of coffee or +some ices before supper was served. + +"Say," observed one man to his wife, after Dick had found them chairs, +"you'd never know he was a millionaire, would you?" + +"Why not?" + +"Why, because he's just like other boys--he's like one of our own +folks." + +"Of course he is," answered his wife. "It's only the wrong kind of +people that money makes any difference to. Dick Hamilton can't help +being nice. His money hasn't spoiled him," which view was shared by more +than one that night. + +And such a supper as there was! Long years afterward some of the boys +and girls, who were quite small when they attended Dick's party, used to +tell of it as though it was a visit to fairyland. Dick fairly outdone +himself in seeing that everyone had a good time, and from the faces +around the long tables, set within the tent, it was evident that the way +to young people's hearts, or, at least, to their good spirits, is +through their stomachs. + +Dick walked about, like a perfect host, seeing that everyone was served, +before sitting down himself. At his heels followed Grit, who was unhappy +when away from his master. + +"Oh, what a perfect darling of a dog!" exclaimed Birdy Lee, as she +stopped over to pat Grit, which indignity he suffered in disdainful +silence. + +"Isn't he sweet!" chorused several other girls. + +"Well, he's no beauty, judged by young ladies' standards," said Dick, +with a gallant look at his girl friends. "But beauty in a bulldog is +more than skin deep," he added. "Grit is pure gold when it comes to +being a friend." + +"What makes his two teeth stick up that way? Don't they hurt his lip?" +asked Alice. + +"I never heard him complain," replied Dick. "But I'd better move along, +I guess. Grit is getting hungry, and I don't want him to begin on any of +the waiters. He doesn't take to colored men very well. One of them +started to run when Grit growled at him a while ago as the man was +bringing in a roast chicken." + +After supper there were more games, and the fun increased as the hours +passed. Dick was congratulated on every side, not only for the success +of his party, but on his speedy recovery from the boat accident. + +As the millionaire's son was crossing the tent, with Grit following at +his heels, he met Guy and Simon, who had been together all the evening, +and who had not mingled much with the other guests. + +"Hello, Grit, old boy!" exclaimed Simon, but the dog must have detected +the insincerity in the youth's tones, for he uttered a low growl and +showed his strong teeth. + +"Oh, I'm not going to hurt you," sneered Simon. + +"No, I don't think it would be exactly healthy," remarked Dick. + +"Is he a very valuable dog?" Simon went on, paying no further attention +to Grit. + +"Well, he's rated at a thousand dollars in the records of the Kennel +Club," answered Dick. "I don't know that any dog is worth so much from a +financial standpoint, but I know I wouldn't sell him for that; would I, +Grit?" and the bulldog almost wagged his stump of a tail off in delight +at Dick's caressing words. + +"Humph! I'd look at a thousand dollars a good while before I'd give it +for a dog," cried Simon. + +"You don't know Grit," was Dick's quiet answer, as he turned away. + +"Come on, Guy," said Simon, a little later. "I'm going to clear out of +here." + +"What for? Let's have some more ice-cream. It's bully." + +"No," replied Simon, shortly. "I've got a scheme on for making some +money out of Dick, and taking him down a peg. I owe him something for +spoiling that bond sale." + +"But he didn't spoil it," replied Guy, who, in spite of certain mean +traits of character, was inclined to be fair. "Besides, you wouldn't +have sold Dick worthless bonds, would you?" + +"How was I to know they were worthless?" asked Simon, with a short +laugh. "He has to take chances in this world. But this time there'll be +no slip-up. Come on, I've got to see a man to-night." + +As the two walked from the tent, where the merry-making was still going +on, Guy saw something dangling from Simon's pocket. It looked like a +small black snake. + +"What's that?" he asked, in some alarm. + +"Hush!" whispered Simon. "That's the leash thong of Dick Hamilton's +bulldog. Come along!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +DICK TURNS DETECTIVE + + +"Well, Dick," remarked Mr. Hamilton at breakfast the next morning, "your +party was a great success." + +"I hope they all had a good time. They seemed to. I know I did." + +"Yes, they were a fine lot of young people," went on the millionaire. +"Oh, by the way, I had a letter from the man in Yazoo City I wrote to +about your gold mine stock. Nick Smith, his name is. He's an old +forty-niner, I understand." + +"What does he say?" + +"The mine is all right. He sent me a report from the government assay +office, and I guess the Dolphin is as good as the Hop Toad." + +"Then I'd better finish paying for the stock when Mr. Vanderhoof comes +to town again," said Dick. "It will be mine then, and all I'll have to +do is to wait for it to increase and pay me big dividends." + +"I hope it does," answered Mr. Hamilton. "I also had a letter from +Vanderhoof yesterday. He also had heard from Smith, it appears, and as +he learned the mine was favorably reported on, he sent word that he'd +call to-day for the fifteen hundred dollars." + +"He can have it, dad," said Dick. "I guess I'll go down to the bank with +you. What time will Mr. Vanderhoof be there?" + +"At eleven, his letter said. Well, if you have finished breakfast, come +along. You're getting to be quite a financier." + +"I'm going to make that a paying investment if it's a possible thing," +answered Dick, as he walked through the well-kept grounds toward the +street and thought of Uncle Ezra's place. + +Mr. Vanderhoof was promptly on time, and had the bonds ready for Dick, +who paid for them with a check. The youth, who had about given up trying +to recall where he had seen Vanderhoof before, thought the mining +promoter smiled more than ever like a cat as he handed over the +securities and took the money. + +"I'm sure I hope you double your capital," he remarked, with a smirk +that showed nearly all his teeth. + +"Oh, if I make twenty-five per cent. I'll be satisfied," answered Dick. + +"Well, I'll be in town for a few days," Mr. Vanderhoof went on, "and if +either of you would like to take some more mining stock I'll be glad to +accommodate you." + +"I have enough," replied the millionaire, and Dick answered that he +wanted to see how this investment turned out before venturing another. + +"Well, I'll be in town, at any rate," was the promoter's parting remark. + +Dick felt quite like a man of business as he looked over his check book +a little later and noted what he had paid out. True, he had taken in +nothing since he had come into his fortune, but he knew the wealth his +mother had left him was accumulating interest all the while--faster, in +fact, than he had spent it so far. Still he wished that he was receiving +an income from some efforts of his own. + +"Never mind, wait until my stock in the gold mine and the milk company +begins to boom," he told himself. "That is, if that milk concern doesn't +demand another assessment," he added, dubiously. + +Dick walked slowly home, and, passing around the side of the house, +approached the stable. He intended taking a gallop on Rex that afternoon +and wanted the groom to have the horse in readiness. As he neared Grit's +kennel he noticed that the chain was thrown over the top of the house, +as it usually was when the dog was loose. + +"Where's Grit?" he asked of Peters, the groom. + +"Grit, Master Dick?" inquired the man, in great surprise. "Sure an' +didn't you send for him about an hour ago?" + +"Me send for him?" repeated Dick in some alarm, for Grit, even if he was +unchained, would not stray away from the stable. He was nowhere in +sight, and Dick at once became worried. + +"Sure, Master Dick," went on the groom. "About an hour ago a youngish +chap came here and said you'd sent him for Grit." + +"And you let him take him?" + +"Why, sure, I thought you'd sent for him, as you did once." + +"Yes, but then I sent a note, Peters." + +"That's so, but the young man had Grit's leash, sir; and, though the dog +was inclined to be a bit ugly, he seemed to know the leash and went +along after a bit." + +"What sort of a man got him?" asked Dick, quietly, though he was much +excited over what seemed to be the theft of his pet. + +"A young man, not very nice-looking, Master Dick, and smelling very +strong of the stables. In fact, that's what made Grit finally take to +him. Grit's very fond of horses and stables, sir. He'll let almost +anyone come near him as long as they've been around a barn." + +"That's so. Did the man say anything, or give any name?" + +"No. He just said you were going for a walk and wanted Grit to go 'long. +Said you was too busy to come and had sent the leash so's he'd have no +trouble. He didn't have--that is, not very much--barring that Grit +wanted to get hold of his leg first. But when the dog had sniffed at the +leash, probably knowin' it came from you, he was quiet enough. But I +could see the man was askeered of him, Master Dick. He walked to one +side like. Why, Master Dick, is anything wrong?" + +"Wrong? I should say so! Grit's been stolen, Peters." + +"You don't say so, Master Dick!" exclaimed the man, much alarmed at his +part in the matter. + +"Yes, he's been stolen, and by a clever trick," went on Dick. "But I +don't blame you, Peters. I remember now, I lost the leash thong last +night. I had it on Grit and I took it off and put it in my pocket. Then +I missed it after the party, and I was too tired to look for it. Someone +must have found it, and, knowing it belonged to Grit, made up his mind +to steal him. The fellow must have known he'd come more willingly after +smelling his own leash." + +"But you must have lost it somewhere around here," went on Peters. +"Someone at the party may have found it." + +"If they had they would have known it was mine," answered Dick. "No, I +think someone outside found it and he stole Grit. Well, I've got to find +him, that's all. Saddle Rex, and I'll make some inquiries about town." + +"But it's near dinner-time, Master Dick." + +"I don't care. I can't eat if Grit is gone," and with a heavy heart Dick +waited for the horse to be saddled. He whistled shrilly his favorite +call to Grit, hoping the dog might have broken away not far from the +stable, and be in hiding somewhere, but no Grit appeared. + +On the back of Rex, Dick made a hasty tour of the immediate +neighborhood, inquiring of various persons he met if they had seen the +bulldog. Grit was well known about Hamilton Corners, for he was often +seen in his master's company. But this time no one had noticed him being +led off in leash by a young man who seemed quite afraid of the brute +that was so handsome for his very ugliness. + +"He's been stolen for a reward," was Mr. Hamilton's opinion when he came +home to lunch and heard Dick's woeful story. "You'll hear from him +sooner or later. Better advertise in the county papers." + +Dick put in several notices that afternoon, offering to pay a reward of +a hundred dollars for the return of Grit. + +"Now we'll have to wait," said the millionaire. "Never mind, Dick; if +Grit is gone you can get another dog," for Mr. Hamilton was as fond of +animals as was his son. + +"There'll never be another Grit," answered Dick, sorrowfully. + +Meanwhile, Grit was being led across the country fields which stretched +out back of the Hamilton mansion. + +"I've got to keep off the roads," muttered the youth who had hold of the +leash. "There's too many people as knows a dorg like this. I wish I +hadn't gone into this game. It's too risky, not only at bein' caught, +but I don't like the way this dorg looks at my legs. He looks hungry." + +Indeed, Grit was in no amiable frame of mind. He consented to be led +along because he recognized his old leash, and the man leading him had +the familiar smell of horses, which Grit loved so well. The dog was a +little suspicious, but once before Dick had sent a stranger for him and +the man had smelled of horses, so Grit, though he had grave doubts, was +willing to go along. But he was getting anxious to see his master, as +his uneasy growls from time to time indicated, to the no small alarm of +the somewhat ragged youth leading him. + +"Easy now, old boy," he said. "That's a good dorg. We'll soon be there," +he added, as he cast an uneasy look around. "The wagon must be waiting +somewheres about here." + +He cut through a little clump of trees and emerged upon an unfrequented +road that led to Leonardville, a distant settlement. + +"There's the rig!" he exclaimed, as he caught sight of a wagon and a +horse hitched to the fence. "The worst of it's over." + +"Did you get 'im?" asked a man in the wagon. + +"Yep, an' I'll be glad to git rid of 'im. He's a little too anxious to +see what my legs is made of." + +Grit was led toward the wagon. He seemed to think something was not just +right, for he growled menacingly and hung back. + +"Hold 'im a minute now, until I git the bag," ordered the man in the +wagon, and, as the ragged youth did so, the man suddenly threw a big +sack over Grit's head. Then, hastily wrapping him up in it and tying +several turns of rope about it, the sack and dog were tossed into the +wagon. + +"Quick's the word!" exclaimed the man, as he and the youth got up on the +seat and drove off. "Now to get our share of the reward. I hope that +young feller what put up this job knows what he's about." + +Poor Grit, whining and growling alternately in the bottom of the wagon, +tried to work the suffocating bag off his head, but it was too tightly +fastened. + +The mail the next day brought Dick a badly-written and worse-spelled +missive, in which it was stated that if he wanted Grit returned he could +have him by paying two hundred dollars' reward. No names were signed, +and the handwriting was unfamiliar. + +"I told you so," said Mr. Hamilton. "But who's got him?" + +"The letter doesn't say. I'm to leave two hundred dollars to-night under +a flat stone, near the stump just where the county road crosses +Butternut Creek. Then, the letter says, the dog will be back at the +stables to-morrow morning." + +"Well," remarked Mr. Hamilton, "that's a hundred more than you +advertised to pay. I guess you can't help yourself. You'd better do as +the letter says." + +"I'll not!" exclaimed Dick. + +"What are you going to do? Inform the police? They won't be able to do +much. Besides, they'll never bother over a dog, no matter how valuable +he is." + +"No," replied Dick. "I'm not going to tell the police." + +"What then?" + +"I'm going to turn detective myself and find Grit! See, here is the +first clue," and he held up the envelope of the letter. "This was mailed +in Leonardville. I'm going there for a starter, and I'll find Grit!" + +With flashing eyes Dick hurried to the stables to order Rex saddled. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +GRIT'S REVENGE. + + +Peters soon had the horse ready, and as Dick leaped into the saddle his +father came hurrying out to the stables. + +"Now be careful, Dick," he cautioned. "Don't do anything rash. What are +your plans?" + +"I'm going to ride in the direction of Leonardville. That's about ten +miles by the main road. I'll inquire as I go along; but what I'll do +after I get there I can't tell." + +"Well, be careful, that's all," concluded Mr. Hamilton. "The fellows who +stole Grit are no common thieves, I imagine, and I hope you don't get +into trouble with them." + +"I'm not worrying about trouble. Once I get where Grit is, he and I can +take care of the thieves all right," and Dick laughed grimly. + +He started off at an easy canter, though Rex was full of mettle and +wanted to gallop. + +"No, Rex," said Dick, for he had a habit of talking to his horse as he +did to Grit. "We'll take it easy. We've got a long day ahead of us." + +It was about ten o'clock, and Dick decided to ride several miles without +stopping to make inquiries, as the day previous he had pretty well +covered the neighborhood near his home. But in about an hour, having +reached a small village, he asked several persons he met if they had +seen anything of his dog. No one had, and he pushed on. + +Mile after mile he rode, stopping every little while to make inquiries, +but without avail. He got dinner at a wayside hotel and then resumed his +trip. It was about three o'clock when, as he stopped at a watering +trough under a big chestnut tree on the edge of the road, he saw a wagon +coming toward him. + +"I'll ask this man," thought Dick. He waited until the vehicle and the +driver were in plainer view through the cloud of dust raised and then he +exclaimed: + +"Why, Henry! How'd you get out here?" + +"Oh, I've been after some old iron," replied the secretary and general +man-of-all-work of the International and Consolidated Old Metal +Corporation. "I heard of a farmer who had a lot of scrap for sale and I +went after it." + +"Did you get it?" + +"Sure. It's in the wagon," and Henry nodded toward the rear of his +vehicle, which was filled with a mass of broken iron. "I started away +from home yesterday afternoon expecting to get back last night, but I +had a breakdown and I had to stay until morning. But what are you doing +out here?" + +"Looking for Grit," and then Dick told about the theft of his dog. "I +don't s'pose you've seen anything of him, have you?" + +"Where did you say that letter came from?" asked Henry, showing some +excitement. + +"Leonardville. That's where I'm headed for. Why?" + +"Then I saw your dog!" exclaimed Henry. + +"Where?" asked Dick, excitedly. + +"I was driving along last night," went on the young representative of +the old metal concern, "and, just before I had my breakdown, I saw a +wagon pass me. I looked in the back and saw something covered with a +blanket. It was moving, and I wondered what it could be when I heard a +dog bark. I thought it was rather funny to cover a dog up that way on a +hot day. One of the men leaned back, and, when it barked, he hit the dog +with a whip." + +"Poor Grit!" murmured Dick. "Wait till I get hold of those fellows. +Where did they go, Henry?" + +"I'll tell you. I was thinking that was a pretty mean way to treat a +dog, but I never thought they might have stolen him, and were trying to +keep him hid. I watched their wagon until it was out of sight and +then----" + +"Did you lose sight of them?" broke in Dick. + +"I went on a little farther," continued Henry, "and one of the springs +of my wagon broke. I knew I couldn't get it fixed until morning, so I +unhitched the horse and drove him along until I came to a hotel. This +was at Maysville, and when I got to the tavern I saw the same two +fellows. They were just driving away, and I heard one say it wasn't far +to the Eagle Hotel. Now there's an Eagle hotel in Leonardville, and I'll +bet you'll find your men and dog there. I'd like to go back with you and +help----" + +"That's all right, Henry," interrupted Dick. "I guess I can manage," +and, calling back his thanks to the young iron merchant, and promising +to see him later, Dick urged his horse off at a gallop, disappearing in +a cloud of dust. + +"Now there's a good example for you to follow, old bag of bones," said +Henry, addressing his own steed. "Why don't you try that for a change +and you'd get home to supper quicker. Well, I s'pose you'll last longer +if you don't go so fast," and, with that comforting reflection, Henry +managed, after a time, to get his horse in motion, the beast having +almost gone to sleep during its driver's talk with Dick. + +"Now to find Grit!" exclaimed the millionaire's son, as he galloped on. +"Poor dog, I hope they haven't abused you very much." + +Dick did not stop along the road to make any further inquiries. He +reached Leonardville in good time and soon found his way to the Eagle +Hotel. He let Rex trot into the stable yard, and, dismounting, told one +of the hostlers to feed and water the animal when it had cooled off. + +As Dick started up the steps to the porch, intending to make some +inquiries of the landlord, he suddenly started back in surprise, for, +coming out of the main entrance, was Simon Scardale. + +"Hello, Simon!" exclaimed Dick. + +"Why-er-w-w-why, hello--Dick," stammered Simon. "Have you come to--what +are you doing here?" he managed to say, with an attempt at pleasantry. + +"I might ask you the same thing," responded Dick. + +But Simon did not wait to hear anything further. He darted back into the +hotel murmuring: + +"Wait a minute--I've forgotten something--see you right away----" + +"He acts as though he was afraid to meet me," thought Dick, as he walked +on. "I wonder what he's doing here?" + +An instant later he was surprised to see Simon come out of a side door +and fairly run to the stables. At the same instant a man appeared in the +door of the barn, and to him Simon made frantic gestures to remain +hidden. Then, as Dick watched this by-play with a bewildered air, there +came from the stable the bark of a dog. + +"Grit!" exclaimed Dick. "Grit! Grit, old boy!" + +The barks became a howl of rage and there sounded the rattle of a chain. + +"Grit! Grit!" cried Dick, running toward the stable. + +There was the noise of a chain snapping. Then came frightened shouts. An +instant later Simon, followed by a ragged man and a youth, dashed from +the barn with the bulldog in close pursuit. Out of the hotel yard they +raced, with Grit growling and barking and making fierce leaps for them. + +"Grit!" called Dick, but, for once, Grit refused to obey his master's +voice. His heart was too full of revenge for the insults he had +suffered. + +Out into the highway ran Simon and the two others, with the dog gaining +at every leap. + +"Help! Save me!" cried Simon, as Dick ran out to see what the end would +be. He was fearful that Grit would get one of the fleeing ones down and +set his teeth into his throat. + +"Grit! Grit!" he called, frantically, but the bulldog never heeded. + +Simon turned, hoping to get out of the path of the maddened beast, but +he did not reckon on Grit's quickness. The dog made a grab for Simon's +trousers and caught them at the seat. There was a ripping sound, a +frantic yell from Simon, and he fell, rolling over and over in a cloud +of dust. + +"Grit! Don't bite him!" shouted Dick, fearful of what might happen. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +UNCLE EZRA'S VISIT. + + +But Grit had no intentions of wasting time on Simon when his revenge was +not complete. He dropped the large piece of cloth he had torn from +Simon's trousers and kept on after the two other fleeing individuals. + +The ragged youth was the faster runner, and the man, lagging behind, +turned as if to beat off the dog. But Grit was fearless. Right at the +man he sprang, and the fellow gave a yell of agony as he saw the brute +launched at his throat. But Grit was not blood-thirsty. He caught the +man by the lapel of his ragged coat, and, in an instant, had pulled him +to the ground. Then, having worried him until the thief must have +thought he was being eaten alive, Grit left him and set off after the +third of the trio. + +The youth was becoming exhausted, but Grit was as fresh as ever. There +was no give-up to him. He caught the ragged lad before he had gone a +hundred feet farther and soon had him down. He fairly tore the coat off +his back, and, after standing over him a few seconds, growling as though +he was about to tear him into little pieces, Grit, with a satisfied +shake of his head, started back on the run toward Dick. + +"Grit! Grit, old boy! So they tried to steal you, did they?" murmured +Dick, as the dog bounded up on him and frantically licked his face. +"Well, I guess they wish they hadn't." + +Grit nearly shook himself apart trying to wag his stump of a tail to +show his delight at again being with his master. Dick fairly hugged his +pet, but the tears almost came to his eyes as he saw several cruel welts +on the dog's satin-like coat, where he had been beaten. + +"So they struck you, eh?" asked Dick, a fierce light coming into his +brown eyes. "I don't blame you for taking after them as soon as you +broke loose. I guess I'll have a score to settle with Simon and his +cronies." + +But there was no chance to do this. Simon gave one look at Dick and Grit +as they walked back to the hotel. Then, trying to pull his coat down so +as to conceal the big hole in his trousers, he hurried away up the road, +after the man and youth, who had continued their interrupted escape as +soon as they were assured that Grit had left each two legs on which to +run. + +"Well, Grit, old boy," went on Dick, as he entered the hotel. "I got you +back without putting any two hundred dollars under a stone at Butternut +Creek, didn't I? But I guess Henry is entitled to his hundred of the +reward. Now to make some inquiries." + +The landlord soon told all he knew of the case. Late the previous night, +he said, the ragged youth and his companion had arrived at the hotel, +bringing the dog in the wagon. They said they had purchased it and were +taking it to a man in the country. They paid for the keep of themselves +and their horse and remained all night. + +"This morning the well-dressed young fellow came along," went on the +landlord. + +"That was Simon," murmured Dick. + +"He registered as Thomas Henderson," said the hotel keeper. "I didn't +much like his looks, but I'm here to hire rooms and furnish meals to +travelers, not to criticise 'em. I was a leetle s'prised that he seemed +to know them other two, but I thought that was his business. He seemed +to know the dog, too, but the beast didn't take much of a notion to him. +They stayed here all day, and one of my hostlers says the dog tried to +break loose several times. They kept him chained in the stable, and they +licked him more than once, I guess. They said he was savage and had to +be beat to make him mind." + +"Poor Grit," murmured Dick, and the dog barked joyfully at being again +with his master. + +"Wa'al," resumed the hotel man, "Simon, as you call him, an' the other +two, they had several talks together. I heard 'em say suthin' about +expectin' someone with money." + +"That was me," interposed Dick, with a smile. + +"Only I determined to get my dog, if I could, without paying them +anything." + +"And you did it," said the landlord, with a laugh. + +"I did," replied Dick. "But I never suspected Simon would try such a +desperate game as this. He must have found the leash the night of the +party," he went on, after telling the landlord what had happened. "Then +he got in with these fellows and had them steal Grit. The letter they +mailed gave me a clue, and Henry told me enough more to enable me to +find Grit. Well, I guess I've seen the last of Simon Scardale." + +It was not exactly the last, but Simon did not reappear in Hamilton +Corners, and, though he afterward played a part in Dick's life, he had +dropped out of it for the present. + +The horse and wagon, which the man and youth left behind, was called for +that evening by an individual of the tramp variety, but, as he brought +the cash to pay the last of the hotel bill, the landlord let him take +the rig. Dick decided to stay at the Eagle Hotel all night, and he sent +a telegram to his father explaining his absence and telling of his +success. He decided he would not follow up Simon or his cronies to +prosecute them for the theft. + +As the journey was a little too long for Grit to make afoot, and as Dick +could not take him in the saddle with him, he sent Rex home in care of a +man he hired, and engaged a carriage for himself and the dog, arriving +home the next day at noon. + +"Well," remarked Mr. Hamilton, as his son came in with Grit, "your +detective work was all right." + +"Yes, thanks to Henry Darby," answered the son. "I'm going to send him a +check for a hundred dollars," which he proceeded to do. + +"Here are a couple of letters for you," went on the millionaire, handing +the missives to his son. One proved to be a note from Guy Fletcher. He +had heard what had occurred regarding the dog, for Mr. Hamilton told +several friends of his son's telegram, and Guy hastened to assure Dick +that he had no idea of Simon's scheme. + +"He told me he was only going to play a joke on you," wrote Guy, in the +note which was delivered by a messenger. "He took the leash from your +pocket the night of the party, and said he was going to hide Grit and +make you believe he was stolen. I hope you don't believe I'd have +anything to do with Simon if I thought he intended to really steal your +dog. He has gone out West, I hear, somewhere in the gold mine region. My +father has forbidden me to ever speak to Simon again." + +"I guess you'll not get a chance right away," murmured Dick. + +The whole thing was plain to him now. Simon wanted money, and thought he +could make it by getting the man and youth to steal Grit, and then +making Dick put the two hundred dollars under the stone. Everything had +gone well up to a certain point. The dog had been taken away, carried in +the wagon to Leonardville, and thither Simon had gone to make the final +arrangements. The unexpected appearance of Dick had spoiled the scheme. +Simon had hurried to the barn to warn his confederates, but at that +instant Grit, excited by a beating he was getting, had broken loose. + +"No," mused Dick, "I don't believe Simon will show up around here for +some time." + +"Who is the other letter from?" asked Mr. Hamilton. + +"I don't know. I'll open it." + +Dick rapidly scanned the contents. + +"Uncle Ezra Larabee is coming to pay us a visit," he announced. "He'll +be here to-morrow." + +"Uncle Ezra, eh?" repeated Mr. Hamilton. "I suppose he wants to see how +you are getting on--with your investments." + +"Hum!" exclaimed Dick, with an uneasy laugh, "maybe he thinks the year +is up and I'm to go back with him. But it isn't--I'm glad to say." + +"Well, we must make his visit pleasant," said Mr. Hamilton. "It isn't +often he comes to Hamilton Corners." + +Uncle Ezra Larabee arrived the next day. Dick was in the library reading +when he heard the door bell ring and the butler answered it. + +"Is Mr. Hamilton in?" he heard a voice ask, and he knew it was his +uncle. The boy hastened to greet his relative. + +"Why didn't you let us know what train you were coming on and I would +have met you with the carriage," asked Dick, politely. + +"No, thank you, Nephew Richard," replied Uncle Ezra, in rasping tones. +"I'm not too old to walk, and it's well to save the horse all you can." + +"And you carried that heavy valise?" asked Dick. + +"Of course I did, Nephew Richard. You didn't suppose I was going to pay +twenty-five cents to have a boy carry it, did you? Lots of them wanted +to, but twenty-five cents isn't earned every day, so I brought it +myself," and with an expression of pain that he could not conceal Mr. +Larabee set the heavy satchel down. His arm was stiff from carrying it, +but he smiled grimly with satisfaction when he thought of the quarter of +a dollar he had saved. + +"Come right upstairs and I'll show you to your room," invited Dick. +"Then I'll telephone father you are here." + +"No, no, don't waste any money telephoning, Nephew Richard," said Uncle +Ezra, hastily. + +"Why it doesn't cost anything, uncle. We have to pay for the telephone +by the year." + +"Well, don't do it. They might charge you something this time. You never +can tell. Besides, you might interrupt your father in some business +deal and make him lose some money. No, I'll wait until he comes home." + +"Very well," assented Dick. + +"Gracious! What's that?" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, as a low growl came from +a dark corner by the stairs. "Have you any wild beasts in here?" + +"No, that's only my dog, Grit, uncle. He'll not hurt anyone." + +"A dog? In the house?" exclaimed Mr. Larabee. "Why, he might chew a hole +in the carpet. Besides, I can't bear dogs. Get out, you brute!" he +exclaimed, aiming a kick at Grit, who walked toward Dick. + +The bulldog, with an ugly growl, crouched for a leap at Mr. Larabee. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE FRESH-AIR YOUNGSTERS. + + +"Hold him back! Hold him! Let me hide! He'll bite me!" exclaimed Uncle +Ezra, as he saw Grit's wicked-looking teeth. + +"Grit!" spoke Dick, softly, and in a reproving voice. "This is my Uncle +Ezra," he went on. "Don't you know any better than that?" + +Instantly Grit's manner changed. He showed that he was sorry for the +mistake he had made of growling at one of the family visitors. He even +approached Uncle Ezra as if to make friends, but Mr. Larabee shrunk +away. + +"I can't bear dogs," he said. + +Grit acted as if he understood, for he turned away. Nor did he seem to +miss a caress from Mr. Larabee. Grit was a wise dog, and he well knew +that the man disliked him. + +"If you keep that dog in the house I'm afraid I can't stay, Nephew +Richard," Dick's uncle went on. "I wouldn't sleep a wink thinking of +him." + +"Gibbs, take Grit to the stable," said Dick to the butler, with a little +sigh, and the dog, with a somewhat reproachful look at his master, +allowed himself to be led away. Nor was he permitted to come into the +house during Uncle Ezra's visit, which quarantine he seemed to resent, +for he always growled menacingly whenever Mr. Larabee came near him out +doors. But this was not often, as Dick's uncle was very much afraid of +Grit. + +Mr. Hamilton soon came home, and warmly greeted his wife's brother. + +"I'm glad to see you," said the millionaire. "How would you like to take +a run to Hazelton this evening to the theatre? They have a good summer +company playing there and we can make a quick trip in Dick's runabout." + +"I never go to theatres," said Mr. Larabee, in severe tones. "It's +sinful, and a wicked waste of money. If there is a good instructive +lecture in the village I would much rather go to that." + +"I'm afraid there isn't," replied Mr. Hamilton, trying not to smile, for +he respected his brother-in-law's scruples. "But we can spend the +evening pleasantly at home--talking." + +"Pleasantly!" repeated Dick to himself, with a sort of groan. +"Pleasantly, with Uncle Ezra? Never!" + +After supper Mr. Larabee and Dick's father chatted in the library. The +talk ranged from business matters to subjects in Dankville, where Mr. +Hamilton knew several families. + +"Perhaps you'd like to take a look about the house," suggested Mr. +Hamilton, after a pause "I've been putting in some improvements lately, +and enlarging the conservatory. Dick will show you around." + +"What? Tramp through the house just to look at it? I don't believe in +doing that," replied Uncle Ezra, firmly. "Things wear out fast enough as +it is without using them when it isn't necessary. No use walking on the +best carpets when there isn't a need for it. Besides, I don't believe in +spending money on a house when it's good enough. Your place was very +nice without adding to it. Think of the money you could have saved." + +"But I didn't have to save it," responded Mr. Hamilton. "I made lots +this year, and I thought it was a wise thing to put it into something +permanent. I have increased the value of my house." + +"Much better put it in the bank," advised Uncle Ezra, with a +disapproving sniff. + +Mr. Hamilton and Dick tried to entertain their visitor, but it was hard +work. He cared nothing for the things they were interested in, and was +somewhat inclined to dictate what Mr. Hamilton should do with his money. + +"You burn too many lights," he said, noting that several incandescents +were aglow in the library where they sat. "One would do as well," and he +turned out all but one. + +"I contract for it by the year," said Mr. Hamilton. "It doesn't cost me +any more to burn five lamps than it does one." + +"But the lamps wear out," was Uncle Ezra's answer. "And speaking of +things wearing out reminds me. We got a letter the other day and it +almost made Samanthy sick. She hasn't got over the shock of it yet." + +"What was it?" asked Dick. + +"Why, it was from some crazy society in New York, wanting us to take +twenty-five 'fresh-air children,' the letter said, to board at our house +for a few weeks. Said they heard we had a big farmhouse and could +accommodate 'em." + +"Are you going to take them?" inquired Mr. Hamilton. "I think your house +would be just the place for them. You have lots of room, and you can't +eat all that you raise on the farm. It would do the poor things good." + +"Are--we--going--to--take--them?" repeated Mr. Larabee. "I'm surprised +at you, Mortimer Hamilton. The idea of taking twenty-five street-arabs +in our house! Why, the very idea of it made Samanthy sick a bed for a +day. Those rapscallions wouldn't leave a carpet on the floor! They'd +tear the house apart! I know! I've read about 'fresh-air children' +before." + +"You might take the carpets up," suggested Dick, with a smile. + +"What?" almost shouted Uncle Ezra. "Nephew Richard, there's carpets in +our house that hasn't been up for years. Why the spare room hasn't been +opened since sister Jane's funeral, and that was--let me see--that was +the year when Ruth Enderby got married. Take 'fresh-air children' into +our house! Why, we wouldn't have any house left at the end of the week." + +"Oh, I guess not as bad as that," replied Mr. Hamilton, indulgently. +"But, of course, you know your own business best. I hope Mrs. Larabee +soon recovers." + +"She may, but it was quite a shock," replied Uncle Ezra. "Well, I think +I'll go to bed. I must be up early in the morning. I came here to +transact a little business, and the sooner it's over the sooner I can +get back home. I'm afraid my hired man will burn too much kindling wood +starting the fires. He's the most wasteful man I ever saw." And, sighing +deeply at the depravity of hired men in general and his own in +particular, Uncle Ezra went to bed. + +Dick offered to take him for a spin in the runabout the next day, but +his uncle declined, on the ground that there might be an accident. + +"You might run somebody down and hurt them," he said. "Then they'd sue +you for damages and I'd be liable for a share. I haven't any money to +throw away on automobile accidents." + +"All right," said Dick. "But I'm very careful." + +"You can come walking with me instead," suggested his uncle. "You and I +ought to be friends. We may have to live together some day, you know," +and he tried to smile, but it was only a forced grin. + +"Not much!" thought Dick, as, with rather a heavy heart, he prepared to +accompany his uncle on the walk. "No, no, Grit, you can't go," he said, +as the dog jumped about in delightful anticipation, for he always went +with Dick. "You might bite Uncle Ezra," he added, as, much against his +wish, he chained Grit in the kennel. Dick could not bear to look back at +his pet, who gazed reproachfully after him. + +Dick showed his uncle such sights as there were in Hamilton Corners. It +was a hot day, and, as they tramped along, Dick got quite thirsty. + +"Come in here, Uncle Ezra," he suggested, as they passed a drug store, +"and we'll get some soda water." + +"What? Pay for a drink of water?" asked Mr. Larabee, horrified. + +"Well, it's got ice-cream in it," replied Dick. + +"It's a sinful waste of money!" declared his uncle. "We can get all the +water we want to drink at home. But, as I am a little thirsty, I'll go +in and ask the man for a glass of plain water. He'll be glad to give it +to us." + +Dick was a little doubtful on this score, and he felt that it would be +rather embarrassing to have his uncle ask for water in the drug store, +where Dick was well known. But he was too polite to object to what Mr. +Larabee did. The latter walked into the store, and, in his rasping +voice, asked for two glasses of water. + +"Do you mean soda water?" inquired the clerk. + +"No, plain water. I don't drink such trash as soda water," replied Mr. +Larabee. + +The clerk looked at him in much astonishment, and then glanced at Dick. +The latter managed to wink, and the clerk seemed to understand. He went +to the back part of the store, and presently came back with two glasses +of water. + +"There, nephew," said Mr. Larabee, triumphantly, as he sipped the plain +beverage. "You see our thirst is quenched and we have saved our money. +Young men should economize, and when they are old they will not want." + +"Yes, sir," replied Dick, dutifully, but when they went out he managed +to lay ten cents on the counter where the clerk would see it. Dick +wasn't going to be made fun of the next time he went in for a glass of +soda. + +"Now, I think we'll go home, Nephew Richard," suggested Mr. Larabee, +when they had walked an hour longer. "There is no use wearing out our +shoes any more than we can help. Besides, I have some business to +transact this afternoon, and I must get the papers out of my valise." + +Dick was glad enough to return, and gladder still, when, the next +morning, Uncle Ezra announced that he was going back to Dankville. + +"You must come and see me and your Aunt Samantha," he said to Dick, as +he bade the lad good-bye, and Dick murmured something that might be +taken as an expression of a fervent desire to pay another visit to The +Firs, but it was not. + +"Dad," said Dick that night, "do you know what I'm thinking of?" + +"Not exactly, you think of so many things." + +"I'm thinking of those poor little fresh-air kids, and how disappointed +they must be not to get a trip to the country. I don't know as I want +them to go to Uncle Ezra's, but--er--say, dad, I'd like to give a bunch +of fresh-air kids some sort of an outing. Think of the poor little tots +shut up in sizzling New York this kind of weather." + +"Well, you can bring them here, I suppose," began Mr. Hamilton, +doubtfully, with a look around his handsomely furnished house, "only +this isn't exactly the country." + +"Oh, I didn't mean here," said Dick, hastily. "I was thinking we could +have a crowd of 'em out to Sunnyside." + +This was the name of a large farm which Mr. Hamilton owned on the +outskirts of the country village of Prattville. + +"The very thing!" exclaimed Mr. Hamilton, with as much fervor as Dick +had shown. "That's the ticket, Dick. I'll write to Foster at once and +ask him if he and his wife can take a crowd of the waifs at Sunnyside +for a few weeks. Then you will have to manage the other end yourself. +Foster will do as I say, I guess, for he loves children and he has a +heart as big as a barrel. You'll have to furnish the children." + +"I'll do it!" exclaimed Dick, delightedly. "I'll write to Uncle Ezra and +ask him the address of that committee in New York. Hurrah for the +fresh-air kids! I hope they have a good time!" + +"I guess they will if he has anything to do with it," mused Mr. +Hamilton, with a fond look at his son as Dick went to get writing +material to pen a letter to Uncle Ezra. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +TIM'S DISCLOSURE + + +Two days later Dick received a reply from Mr. Larabee. In the meanwhile +Mr. Hamilton had written to Foster, the man he hired to take charge of +Sunnyside farm, and had told him to have the place in readiness for +twenty-five youngsters. + +"Did your Uncle Ezra give you the address of the Fresh-Air Committee?" +asked Dick's father. + +"Yes, and he sent me a letter of advice along with it." + +"What does he say?" + +"I'll read it to you," and Dick turned over the pages of the missive. +"This is what he says about my plan of trying to give those kids a +little fun: + + "'I send you the address of the committee, as you requested, + but, Nephew Richard, I want to warn you against taking them. In + the first place, they will be no better off than they are at + home. They will not appreciate what you do for them. Then, too, + they might bring some terrible epidemic to this part of the + country. Sunnyside is not so far from Dankville but that a + disease might carry to my place, and you know my health is not + strong. + + "'If I had control of you (as I may have some day), I would not + let you do this. But it is not for me to say at this time what + you should do. I think you are throwing the money away, and you + had much better put the amount you intend spending into the + church missionary box and so aid the heathens. They need it.' + +"As if those poor kids in the hot tenements of New York didn't need it, +too," commented Dick. "Well, Uncle Ezra is certainly a queer man. I +suppose he'll keep his house filled with disinfectants while the waifs +are at Sunnyside, though it's many miles away." + +In about a week Dick had completed arrangements with the committee in +New York, the president of which wrote to thank him for aiding in the +work they were doing. Dick was told that twenty-five youngsters, ten +boys and fifteen girls, none of whom had ever been to the country +before, would be sent to Sunnyside in charge of a matron. Dick had +forwarded money to buy the tickets, and had planned with Foster to have +a big stage meet the train on which the "fresh-air kids," as he called +them, would arrive at the nearest station to the country home. + +"Well, dad," remarked Dick, the day before the waifs from New York were +to arrive, "you've seen the last of me for a week." + +"Why; where are you going?" + +"To Sunnyside. I want to see that the kids are started right, and I +think I'll stay about a week to see that they have a good time. I'll +take my runabout, and I can come back in a hurry if I need to. I'll +bring a batch over to see you, maybe." + +"Do," said Mr. Hamilton. "I like children. Poor things! I hope the trip +to the country does them good." + +Dick had read about fresh-air children who were much impressed by their +first visit to the country, but this did not prepare him for the awed +look on the faces of the twenty-five as they tumbled from the train at +the little country depot, and made for the waiting stage. + +"Now, children," said the matron, as Dick came up and introduced +himself, "this is the gentleman who was so kind as to bring you out to +this beautiful place," and she shook hands with the millionaire's son. + +"Is dat de rich guy?" asked one boy, but though his words might sound +disrespectful he did not intend them so. + +"Hush!" exclaimed a girl in a much-patched red dress. "He'll hear you." + +"What do I care! If I wuz as rich as him I wouldn't care who knowed it," +retorted the boy. + +"No more do I, old chap," replied Dick, with a laugh, as he patted the +youngster on the back. "Now, boys and girls, the stage is waiting for +you." + +"Oh, Nellie!" cried a little tot with light hair, "we're goin' to ride +in a real wagon with real horses!" + +"Don't speak so loud!" was the whispered answer of her companion. "It's +like a dream, an' maybe we'll wake up an' find it all gone." + +The children, in spite of the fact that they came from the slums of New +York, were all neat and clean, for that was one of the requirements of +the committee that took charge of the fresh-air work. And, though their +manners might be considered a little rough, they did not intend them so. +It was due to the influence of their surroundings. Soon they had all +piled into the stage, and the driver from Sunnyside started the four +horses. + +"Look, will yer! It's a regular tally-ho like de swells on Fif' Avenoo +drives!" exclaimed the boy who had called Dick the "rich guy." + +The ride to the farm was one continuous series of exclamations of +delight from the boys and girls, who looked at the green fields on +either side of the country road, at the comfortable farmhouses they +passed, or at the range of mountains that towered off to the west. + +"Look!" exclaimed one boy, who had kept tight hold of his sister's hand +from the time he got off the train. "See, Maggie, that's where the sun +goes to sleep. I never saw it before." + +"Where?" asked the girl. + +"Over there," and he pointed to the mountains behind which the golden +orb was sinking to rest. + +"Yes, dear," spoke the matron, who had overheard what was said, "and in +the morning he'll get up and shine on the fields where you can run +around and get strong. + +"He's a sickly child," the matron added in a whisper to Dick. "I'm +afraid he never will be strong. He has such queer fancies at times. His +mother is a widow and goes out washing. The sister stays home and takes +care of her little brother. It was a real charity that they could come, +and I'm sure the committee doesn't know how to thank you for your +generosity." + +"Oh, pshaw! That's nothing," replied Dick, blushing like a girl at the +praise. "I ought to do something with my money. I'm glad I heard about +this fresh-air plan. I'll have some of the youngsters out next year +if----" + +Then he stopped. He happened to think that if his investments did not +succeed he would not have much money to spend the next year, and, +besides, he might be living with his Uncle Ezra at Dankville. + +But the matron did not notice his hesitation, for, at that moment, the +stage turned into the drive leading up to Sunnyside, and Dick was +besieged by several inquiries. + +"Say, mister, is dis a park?" asked one boy, as he saw the well-kept +drive. + +"No, this is the place where you are going to stay," Dick replied. + +"Can we get out an' walk?" asked another, and this seemed to strike a +popular chord, for that request became general. The matron nodded an +assent and the children jumped out of the stage, some boys going by way +of the windows. + +"You can drive on and tell them we are coming," said Dick to the driver. + +"Oh, I guess they'll know it fast enough," responded the man, with a +grin. "You can hear them kids a mile." + +Which was true enough, for the boys and girls were fairly yelling in +pure delight. Dick and the matron walked on behind the crowd, the +millionaire's son watching with interest the antics of the waifs. + +"Johnny! Johnny!" yelled a slip of a girl to her bigger brother. "Come +right off the grass this minute! Do youse want a cop to put you out? He +don't know no better, mister," she said, turning to Dick. "He didn't +mean nothin'. Johnny, do you hear me? Come off that grass right away, or +the man will have youse arrested." + +"No, no! Nothing of the sort!" exclaimed Dick, with a laugh. "You can +eat the grass if you want to. Do just as you please. There isn't a +policeman within twenty miles." + +Then there was a mad rush over the big lawn that led up to Sunnyside. +The children yelled, laughed, shouted, and fairly tumbled over each +other in the very joy of being in the country. Pale cheeks reddened as +the little lungs breathed in the pure, fresh air, dull eyes lighted up +with pleasure, and little hands trembled with eagerness as they plucked +buttercups, dandelions and daisies that grew on the far edges of the +lawns. + +"Wow!" yelled one lad. "Wow! I've got to do somethin' or I'll bust!" + +And that is the way most of them felt it seemed, for they raced, ran, +jumped and tumbled like children just let out after being kept in after +school. + +And such a supper as Mrs. Foster had provided for the waifs! Their eyes +bulged as they came to the table that was fairly groaning under the +weight of good things. + +"Now," called Dick, when they sat down, "let me see how you can eat." + +"They do not need any coaxing," replied the matron, and Dick soon saw +that she was right. + +That was only the beginning of a happy two weeks for the youngsters. +They fairly went wild on the farm, for it had a hundred delights for +them, from watching the cows being milked, to hunting for eggs in the +big barn. Dick took them for automobile rides in relays, bringing +several over to Hamilton Corners to see his father, who further +delighted the childish hearts by gifts of dimes and nickels. On one of +these trips the millionaire's son brought Tim Muldoon, the boy who had +commented on Dick's riches that day the two met. + +"An' does your governor own dat bank?" Tim asked, as Dick stopped the +runabout in front of the institution. + +"Well, most of it, I guess." + +"An' can he go in dere an' git money whenever he wants it?" + +"Yes, I guess he can." + +"Say!" exclaimed Tim, as he looked weakly at Dick, "an youse is his +son?" + +"Yes." + +"An' youse is takin' me an' dese (indicating some of the other +youngsters) out fer a ride in dis gasolene gig? Us what ain't got a +cent?" + +"Yes; why not?" asked Dick, with a smile. + +"Well, all I've got t' say is dat dis is as near bein' rich as I ever +expects t' be, an' say, it's dead white of youse; dat's what it is. Why, +dem rich guys in N' York would no more t'ink of treatin' us dis way dan +dey would jump off de dock. Dat's straight!" + +"Oh, I guess they would if they thought about it, but they probably +don't know how many boys and girls would like to get out and see the +country," said Dick, not wanting to take too much credit to himself. + +"Like pie!" was Tim's contemptuous rejoinder. Then, as he was gazing +rapturously at the entrance to the bank, he suddenly started as he saw a +man coming down the steps. + +"Say," he whispered to Dick, grabbing his arm, "is dat guy in your +governor's bank?" + +"Which man? What do you mean?" + +"I mean dat one wid de black moustache, jest comin' down de steps. Is he +in de bank?" + +"Oh, that's Mr. Vanderhoof," replied Dick, recognizing the mining +promoter. + +"Mr. who?" asked Tim. + +"Vanderhoof. Why, do you know him?" + +"Not by dat name. But say, if he's got anyt'ing to do wit de bank it'll +soon be on de blink." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean put out of business. On de blink, excuse my slang. But youse had +better tell your governor to keep his peepers open." + +"Why?" inquired Dick, a vague suspicion coming into his mind. + +"Because," replied Tim, earnestly. "Dat man's name ain't Vanderhoof any +more dan mine is." + +"Who is he?" + +"Why, he's William Jackson, or Bond Broker Bill. I seen him in de police +court in N' York. I sells papers, an' I knows lots of de cops an' +detectives. I saw 'em arrest dat man once, only he had a white beard an' +moustache den. Now he's shaved off de whiskers an' colored his +moustache, but I knowed him de minute I set me peepers on him. I seen +his mug in de papers lots of times. Youse wants to be on lookout fer him +or he'll put de bank on de blink. He's a gold-brick swindler, an' I +guess up to any other woozy game he can make pay!" + +"Bond Broker Bill! William Jackson! Colonel Dendon!" murmured Dick, in a +daze. "No wonder I thought I had seen Mr. Vanderhoof before. It was in +the New York hotel, where he tried to swindle me! And he sold dad and me +some gold mining stock! I must tell dad right away!" + +Dick looked after the retreating form of Mr. Vanderhoof. Then turning to +Tim, who had made the startling disclosure, he said: + +"Wait here for me! I must see my father at once," and getting out of the +auto he hurried into the bank. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN WHICH MR. VANDERHOOF VANISHES + + +Dick found his father busy, looking over some books and papers. He +waited until the millionaire had finished and looked up, remarking: + +"Well, Dick, what is it now? Some more of the fresh-air kids outside?" + +"Yes, dad, but I've got something more important to tell you than about +them. Was Mr. Vanderhoof just in here?" + +"He was, and I took some more stock in the Hop Toad Mine. I had an +additional report from the government assayer at Yazoo City, and the ore +is richer than ever." + +"You bought more stock, dad?" + +"Yes. Why?" + +"Because that man is a swindler! I just learned of it! His name is not +Vanderhoof at all. He's the same man who tried to swindle me in New +York. He goes by the name of Colonel Dendon. I thought there was +something familiar about him the first day I saw him in here, but I +couldn't place him on account of his dyed moustache. He's a swindler!" + +"Who told you so?" + +"Tim Muldoon, one of the fresh-air children. He saw him under arrest in +New York. Probably he got out on bail. Oh, dad, I'm afraid we've both +been swindled!" + +"Well, don't get excited," counseled Mr. Hamilton, who was used to +facing business troubles. "He may be a swindler, but I think our mining +stock is good. The reports of it are all from reliable men. But I'll +make an investigation at once." + +"What will you do?" + +"I think I'll send for Mr. Vanderhoof and ask him to explain. We'll have +your friend Tim in here. No doubt it is all a mistake. I wouldn't place +too much faith in what a boy says." + +"You don't know Tim," responded Dick. "He's as bright as they make 'em. +I guess all New York newsboys are. But where does Mr. Vanderhoof live?" + +"He is stopping at the Globe Hotel. He told me he would remain in town +about two weeks longer, as he had some business to transact. I'll just +call up the hotel and ask him to come here. Meanwhile, tell Tim to come +in." + +"Don't 'phone, dad," advised Dick. "I'll run down to the hotel in my +auto. If you call him on the wire he may suspect something. I'll bring +him here in the machine." + +"All right, Dick. Maybe that's a good plan. But don't get excited. Be +calm. This may be only a boy's excited imagination. Mr. Vanderhoof +certainly seemed like a business man and not like a swindler. Of course, +I may be fooled. I have been, once or twice, in my time, but you've got +to take those chances. However, we'll not decide anything until we talk +to him. Go ahead." + +"What will I do with the youngsters?" asked Dick. "I've got five of them +with me." + +"Give 'em a quarter apiece and let 'em buy ice-cream," advised the +millionaire, with a laugh. "That is, all but Tim. Let him come in here +and wait." + +"Twenty-five cents' worth of ice-cream each would put them all in the +hospital," explained Dick. "I'll make 'em distribute their wealth," and, +in a few moments he had sent the four boys off to see the sights of the +town, happy in the possession of a quarter of a dollar each, and with +strict injunctions not to get lost, and to be back at the bank in an +hour. + +"Me to go inside de bank?" asked Tim, when Dick told him what was +wanted. "Say, I'm gittin' real swell, I am! If de kids on Hester Street +could see me now dey'd t'ink I was president of a railroad," and, with a +laugh he went into Mr. Hamilton's private office. While Dick was gone +the millionaire questioned the newsboy, who stuck to his story that the +man he had seen was a swindler, who had been under arrest in New York. + +Dick made fast time to the Globe Hotel. When he jumped from the auto, +and hurried inside, the manager, who knew him, nodded a greeting. + +"Is Mr. Vanderhoof about?" asked Dick, trying to keep his voice calm. + +"Mr. Vanderhoof?" repeated the manager. "No, he went out a little while +ago." + +"Where?" + +"Why, he said he was going back to New York," was the rather surprising +answer. "A telegram came for him as soon as he got here and he left in a +hurry. He just caught the express, and didn't even have time to take his +baggage. He paid me his bill and rushed out in a hurry, telling me he'd +send word where to forward his trunk. Did you want to see him about +anything important?" + +"It was, but I guess it will keep," replied Dick, trying not to show any +alarm. + +His worst fears were realized. Vanderhoof, _alias_ Bond Broker Bill, had +been warned by some confederates, perhaps, and had fled, after securing +large sums of money from Dick and his father. + +"And maybe we're not the only victims," thought Dick, as he left the +hotel and turned the auto toward the bank. + +"Well, what luck?" asked Mr. Hamilton, as his son entered. + +"He's skipped out, dad!" + +"He has, eh? Now to find out how badly we have been bitten. Dick, my +boy, it looks as though there was a hoodoo hanging over your +investments. Still, this mine stock may be all right. I'll wire to a +lawyer in Yazoo City." + +"Oh, he's a foxy guy, is Bond Broker Bill," said Tim, when Dick told him +what had taken place. "I wish I'd a spotted him before. Maybe he seen me +an' flew de coop." + +"No, I don't believe he would have known you were on his trail," replied +Dick, with an uneasy laugh. "I think he left on general principles." + +It was several hours before Mr. Hamilton received a reply from the +lawyer in Yazoo City, Nevada. When it came the telegram stated that the +Hop Toad and Dolphin mines were producing a quantity of ore, and were +generally believed to be good mines. + +"Not much known about them here, though," the telegram went on. "Would +advise a personal inspection. Believed that some promotor has a lot of +stock and is trying to sell it in the East. Better look into it." + +"Well, there's a chance yet," said Mr. Hamilton. "As I said, Vanderhoof +may be a swindler, but the mines seem to be good. I'll have someone +right on the ground look them up. We must make our plans carefully." + +"Whom will you get, dad?" + +"I don't know yet. I must write to this lawyer." + +"Dad!" exclaimed Dick, suddenly. "Let me take a trip out West! Let me +look up those mines! If they're no good I want to know it soon, so I can +make some other investment. Can't I go to Nevada?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +OFF FOR THE WEST + + +Mr. Hamilton glanced at his son. Dick was all excited over the events of +the last hour and by the sudden desire that had come to him. + +"You go to Nevada?" repeated the millionaire. + +"Yes, dad, and look up this mining business. I could see the lawyer and +find out whether we have been swindled. The trip would do me good," he +added, with a smile. + +"I haven't any doubt of that, Dick," replied his father. "And, after +thinking it over, I don't know but you could make whatever investigation +would be needed. I think I'll let you go. How soon can you be ready?" + +"To-night." + +"Well, there's no such rush as that. If we've been swindled, finding it +out now isn't going to help matters any. If, on the other hand, as I +hope may be the case, the mines are all right, there's no need of +hurrying out there. You'd better make good preparations for the trip. It +isn't going to be much fun traveling alone." + +"But, dad, I needn't travel alone. I was thinking I could take some of +my chums with me. Bricktop, Frank Bender and Walter Mead would think it +bully fun to go along. Why couldn't I take them?" + +"I suppose you could if their parents did not object. They would be your +guests, of course--that is, you would have to pay all expenses." + +"I'd be willing to. I've got two thousand dollars invested in the +Dolphin mine, and I've got to spend some more to see if I've thrown that +money away. I might as well have some fun out of it, if I can." + +"Four lads will make a nice party. I'll have McIverson go to the depot +and get some time-tables. Meanwhile you had better get the fresh-air +boys back to Sunnyside. It's getting near supper-time, and the matron +may be worried about them." + +"Say, is youse really goin' out where they make gold mines?" asked Tim +Muldoon, as he and Dick went back to the automobile, around which the +other lads, having spent all their money, and seen all the sights, were +waiting. "Are youse goin' out West among de Indians an' cowboys?" + +"Well, yes, but I guess there aren't any Indians left." + +"Sure dere is! Didn't I read about in a book? It's a crackerjack! I'll +lend it to youse. It's 'Three-Fingered Harry; or, De Scourge of de +Redskins!'" + +"No, thanks," answered Dick, with a laugh. "I wouldn't read such trash +if I were you. There are very few Indians left out West and they're too +scarce to kill off." + +"Well," spoke Tim, with a sigh, "it's in de book. Say," he added, "does +it cost much to go out West?" + +"Well, I'm not sure just how much it does take, but I guess it's rather +costly." + +Tim sighed heavily. + +"What's the matter?" asked Dick. + +"I've got three dollars an' nineteen cents salted down in de dime +savings bank," replied the newsboy. "I was savin' it fer a new overcoat, +but I'd rather go out West. How far could I go fer three dollars an' +nineteen cents? Could I travel wit youse as far as it lasted?" + +The boy looked wistfully at Dick, and there was a world of longing in +the blue eyes of Tim Muldoon as they met the brown orbs of the +millionaire's son. Then Dick came to a sudden resolve. + +"Would you like to go with me and the other boys?" he asked. + +"Would I? Say, Mr. Dick, would a cat eat clams? Would I? Don't spring +dat on me agin," he added, with an attempt at a laugh. "I've got a weak +heart an' I might faint. It's back to little ole N' York an' Hester +Street fer mine, I guess." + +"No," said Dick. "I mean it. You may have rendered me and my father a +great service, Tim, in telling us about Vanderhoof. If he proves to be +what you say he is, a swindler, it is a good thing we found it out when +we did. We may be able to save some of our money. If you can arrange to +go I'll take you out West with me. Do you think you can?" + +"Can I go? Well, I should say I can. Where's me ticket? I ain't got no +trunk to pack." + +"But what will your folks say?" + +"I ain't got no folks, Mr. Dick. I'm all dere is," and, though he spoke +flippantly, there was a suspicion of tears in Tim's eyes. + +"Then, if the matron who brought you here says it is all right, you +shall go," decided Dick. + +Dick was actuated by two motives. He wanted to give pleasure to the +little waif, to whom he had taken a great liking, and he also felt that +Tim might be of service to him. If Vanderhoof turned up out in Nevada, +it might be well to have Tim on hand to confront him. Then, too, Tim was +a bright, quick lad, and Dick felt he would be useful on the trip. + +Dick returned his charges to Sunnyside, and the matron, after hearing of +the plans for the western trip, readily consented that Tim should go. He +was an orphan, she explained, who had been taken in charge by a +philanthropic society in New York. The boy was good-hearted and honest, +she said, and had proved that he could be trusted. While his talk might +be a bit rough and slangy a true heart beat under Tim's patched but neat +jacket. + +In spite of the prospective trip Dick did not forget the fresh-air +children. It was found that it would require several days to get the +through tickets for Yazoo City, and, in the meanwhile, the millionaire's +son arranged for a big outdoor clambake for the youngsters. He and the +three boys, whom he had invited to make the long journey with him, +attended, and helped the waifs to have a good time--if they needed such +assistance, which was doubtful. + +Then, after arranging for another lot of the little unfortunates to come +to Sunnyside when the first crowd had reached New York, Dick bade +good-bye to those into whose lives he had been able to bring much +happiness because of his wealth. + +Tim was taken to the Hamilton mansion, where he was fitted up in a +manner that made him think he had fallen heir to some vast treasure, +such as those he read about in dime novels. + +"If me Hester Street friends could see me now," he murmured, as he +looked at the new suit Dick had bought him, "dey would sure take me for +a swell." + +"Don't think too much of good clothes," warned Dick. + +"Well, it's de first time I ever had any to t'ink about," replied Tim, +"an' youse must let me look at dem till I gits used to 'em," which Dick +laughingly agreed to do. + +"I hear you're going out West," remarked Henry Darby to Dick, when he +met him on the street the day before that set for the start. + +"Yes. Going to look up some gold mines," and Dick laughed. + +"If you find any lying around loose, or one that no one else wants--or +even an old one that someone has thrown away--why just express it back +to me," requested Henry. "I'd rather have a good gold mine than this old +metal business, I think." + +"How is it going?" asked Dick. + +"Pretty well. Say, I don't think I ought to keep that hundred-dollar +check you sent me for telling you that I'd seen Grit in the man's +wagon." + +"Of course you've got to keep it!" exclaimed Dick. "I would have paid it +to the first person who gave me the right clue, and I'm sure I couldn't +give it to anyone I like better than you." + +"It certainly came in mighty handy," said Henry. + +"Why?" + +"I had a chance to buy up the refuse from an old boiler factory just +before I got it and I hadn't any cash. Dad had taken all the surplus. +He's got some scheme on hand, and he won't tell me what it is. He says +there's lots of money in it. There may be," went on Henry, with an odd +smile, "but what's worrying me is whether dad is going to get the money +out of it. That's mostly the trouble with his schemes. There's thousands +of dollars in 'em, but the cash generally stays there for all of him. +But maybe this one will turn out all right. I hope so, because he's got +all the surplus. But I used the hundred dollars to buy some old iron, +and I think I can dispose of it at a profit. Well, I hope you have good +luck." + +"Thanks," answered Dick. "I'll remember what you said about a gold +mine." + +"Well, I'll not insist on a gold mine," called back Henry, as he started +his horse up, a task that required some time, for the animal seemed to +take advantage of every stop to go to sleep. "I'm not prejudiced in +favor of a gold mine. A good-paying silver mine will do pretty nearly as +well." + +"I'll remember, Henry. Good-bye until I get back." + +Early the next morning Dick and his four boy friends were on their way +to the West. Their train was an express and the first stop was at a +large city, where several railroads formed a junction. As the boys were +looking from the window of the parlor car, Tim, who managed to take his +eyes away from the gorgeous fittings long enough to notice what was +going on up and down the long station platform, suddenly uttered an +exclamation, and grabbed Dick's arm. + +"Look! Dere he is!" he whispered. + +"Who?" + +"Vanderhoof! Colonel Dendon! Bond Broker Bill!" + +"Where? I don't see anyone." + +"Dat slick-lookin' man, wid de brown hat on," and Tim pointed to him. + +"But he hasn't any black moustache," objected Dick, thinking Tim's +imagination was getting the best of him. + +"Of course not. He's cut it off. But I'd know him anywhere by dat scar +on his left cheek. Dat's de swindler all right!" + +As Dick looked he saw that the man with the brown hat did have a large +scar on his cheek. It had been hidden by the moustache before. + +Then, just as the train pulled out, the man looked toward the parlor +car. His eyes met Dick's, and, an instant later, the man with the scar +was on the run toward the telegraph office. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +AT THE MINES + + +"Hold on!" cried Dick, jumping up. "Stop the train!" + +The cars were rapidly acquiring speed, and Dick ran toward the door with +the evident intention of getting off. + +"Don't jump, Dick!" called Walter Mead. "We're going too fast!" + +"Dat's right," chimed in Tim. "It's too late!" + +"Yes, I guess it is," assented Dick. "But, Tim, how do you know that was +Vanderhoof? To me he didn't look a bit like him. Besides, how did you +know he had a scar under his moustache?" + +"I've seen him wid his whiskers an' moustache off before," replied the +newsboy. "I used to run errands for de sleuths at police headquarters, +an' I seen lots of criminals." + +"But are you sure you saw this man there?" + +"Cert. He was brought in lots of times fer some kind of crooked game, +but most times he was let go, 'cause they couldn't prove anyt'ing agin +him. Sometimes he'd have a white beard an' agin a black moustache, but +dem fly cops, dem gum-shoe sleuths, dey knowed him every time. I'll +stake me reputation dat was him on de platform." + +"But what can he be doing here?" asked Dick, "and why should he make a +bee-line for the telegraph office when he saw me? I'm positive he knew +who I was." + +"Course he did," replied Tim. "He's probably sendin' a telegram to some +of his friends in Yazoo City t' be on de lookout for youse." + +"Do you think so? But how would he know I had started for there?" + +"Say," inquired Tim, in drawling tones, "don't de hull town where you +live know dat Millionaire Hamilton's son is goin' off on a journey in a +palace car, an' takin' some friends, includin' Tim Muldoon, wid him? In +course dey does. An' youse can bet your bottom dollar dat everybody in +Hamilton Corners is talkin' about it. Vanderhoof, or Bond Broker Bill, +knowed it as soon as anybody, an' if he's been puttin' up a crooked deal +he's gittin' ready t' fix t'ings on de other end--at Yazoo City, I +mean." + +"Then, if he has warned his confederates out West," went on Dick, +"there's not much use in my going there to make an investigation. They'd +be sure to have things fixed up to deceive me. I depended on finding out +about the mines before those in charge knew who I was." + +"You can do dat yet," said Tim. + +"How?" + +"Why, lay low, dat's how. Don't go out dere wid de idea of handin' your +visitin' card t' every guy you meet. Drift int' town easy like an' look +about on de quiet fer a few days. Den youse kin see how de land lays an' +git a line on de fakers. After dat youse can go up to de villain like de +hero does in de play an' say: 'Now den, Red-Handed Mike, I have caught +youse at last! You shall give me dose paper-r-r-r-s er I'll shoot you +down like a dog!'" and Tim laughed with the others at his imitation of +the methods of the actors on the stage when a cheap melodrama is being +performed. + +"I don't know but your advice is good," agreed Dick. "I can't catch +Vanderhoof now, but perhaps we can spoil his plans. Let's have a +consultation and decide what's best to do." + +The boys had the parlor car pretty much to themselves, and their talk +was not likely to be overheard by the other passengers who were in the +farther end. + +The journey was a pleasant one, and the boys enjoyed every hour of it. +The country through which they passed presented, almost constantly, +something new in the way of scenery, and as they proceeded farther and +farther west the boys were wild with delight at the beautiful prospect, +the wild stretches of country and the glimpses of the free life on the +plains. + +Sleeping in the berths, eating in the dining-car and looking out of the +windows of the big Pullman were keen delights to Dick's companions, +none of whom had ever traveled in such a fashion before, though to the +millionaire's son it was more or less familiar. + +When they reached the last stage of their journey and were within a few +hours' ride of Yazoo City the five boys, at Tim's suggestion, changed +from the parlor car to an ordinary one. + +"It'll look better t' climb down out of a poor man's car dan from de +coach wid de velvet curtains at de windows," he said. "Students ain't +supposed t' be lookin' fer places t' t'row money away." For they had +agreed to pass themselves off as students, come West to look at mines in +general. + +Thus it was that no unusual comments were made by the crowd at the +station in Yazoo City when the five boys and a few other passengers +alighted from the train. + +It was a typical Western town, rather larger than an ordinary one, for +it was the centre for a prosperous mining section. Across from the +station were two hotels, one called the Imperial Inn and the other the +Royal Hotel. + +"Doesn't seem to be much choice," observed Frank Bender. "Neither one +looks as if royalty was in the habit of stopping at it." + +"We'll go to the Royal," decided Dick. "The lawyer, whom dad wrote to +about the mine, stops there, and I want to see him." + +Accordingly the five boys walked across the street and entered the +lobby of the hotel. It was even less pretentious on the inside than +viewed from without, but it looked clean. Dick led the way up to the +desk, to engage rooms for himself and friends. + +"Glad t' see you, strangers," greeted the man behind the desk with easy +familiarity. "What might yo' uns be, if I might make so bold as to ask? +Travelin' show or capitalists lookin' fer a good payin' mine?" + +"We're studying mining conditions," replied Dick. "Traveling for +information." + +"Ah, I see," interrupted the hotel proprietor, who also acted as clerk. +"We've had some of you college boys out here before. Welcome to Yazoo +City," and Dick and his companions were glad that the man had put his +own interpretation on their object in coming West. He swung the book +around to them and Dick signed first. The pen was poor and the ink +worse, so it was no wonder that his name, when he had scratched it down, +looked like anything but Dick Hamilton. Nor did the others do any +better. + +They were shown to their rooms, and, as it was late afternoon, they +decided to defer beginning their investigations until the next day. The +supper was good but plain, though the boys were more interested in +watching the men about them, and hearing them talk, than they were in +eating, hungry as they were. + +They slept soundly, though Dick was awakened once or twice by revolver +shots and loud yelling. He thought someone had been hurt, but on +inquiring from a porter, passing through the hall, learned that he need +have no cause for alarm. + +"Land love yo', son!" said the porter, a burly Westerner. "Them's only +th' boys gittin' rid of some of their animal spirits. Don't worry none. +They seldom shoots this way, an' if they does they aims high, so they +only busts the top window lights. Yo' ain't got nothin' t' be askeered +of." + +But though Dick was not exactly easy in his mind his rest was not +disturbed by any bullets coming through his window, though there was +considerable shooting all night. + +"I think we'll take a trip out to the mines right after breakfast," +decided Dick, when the boys had gathered in his room after dressing. +"I'll hire a big carriage and we can all go. I inquired about them, and +I learned that the Dolphin and Hop Toad mines are close together, a few +miles outside of town." + +"I think I'll stay around here," decided Tim. + +"Why?" asked Dick. + +"Because I want to see if anyt'ing happens. Youse kin go out to de holes +in de ground. I'll see 'em later if dere worth lookin' at. But I t'ink +I'll mosey around de hotel a while." + +"Well, maybe it will be a good plan," agreed Dick. "We can't tell what +sort of a game Vanderhoof is up to. Now, come on down to breakfast, +boys." + +After the meal Dick hired a large three-seated buckboard, and he and his +chums were driven off toward the mines. The news had quickly gone around +that they were young college students, who had come West to get +practical illustrations bearing on their studies. + +Tim stood on the hotel steps looking after Dick and his chums. As the +carriage disappeared around a turn in the road someone came up to the +newsboy and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned quickly and saw, +standing beside him, a well-dressed lad about his own age. The youth +wore a showy watch chain and assumed a confident air that was not at all +in keeping with his years. + +"How's my friend, Dick Hamilton?" he asked, nodding in the direction of +the carriage. + +"Dick Hamilton," spoke Tim, in a sort of daze. + +"Yes, Dick Hamilton, of Hamilton Corners. I suppose he came out here to +see about the mines he and his millionaire father invested in." + +"Mines," repeated Tim, somewhat surprised to thus learn that Dick's +object was already discovered. + +"Yes, mines," went on the other youth. "Oh, I know all about it. Dick +thought he was cute, pretending to come here with a bunch of college +lads. But I'm on to him, and so are the others." + +"Who are you?" asked Tim, boldly. + +"Just tell Dick that Simon Scardale was asking for him," replied the +flashily-dressed youth, as he moved away. "I'll not give him my address, +because I don't believe he'd like to call on me, but just tell him Simon +Scardale was asking for him," and, with a mocking bow, Simon jumped on a +pony and galloped off down the street. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A NIGHT TRIP + + +Dick and his chums saw many interesting sights on their drive to the +mines. All about them were evidences of the hustling West, and the noise +of the stamping mills, or machines, which crush up the rocks and ore to +enable the precious metals to be extracted from them could be heard on +every side. They met many teams hauling ore from the mines to distant +"stamps," and saw throngs of miners in their rough, but picturesque, +garb, tramping along. + +"Do you think they'll let us visit the mines?" asked Dick of the driver. +"We want to find out all we can about 'em." + +"Oh, I guess so. This is a free and easy country. Visitors are always +welcome, providin' they don't want to know too much," and the driver +winked his eye. + +"Too much?" repeated Dick. + +"Yes. Lots of men out here don't care to have their past history raked +over. It ain't always healthy, son, to ask a man where he came from, or +why he left there. There's secrets, you understand, that a man don't +like strangers to know." + +"I understand," replied Dick, with a laugh. "But we only want to see how +they get the gold out of mines." + +"Oh, yes, you can see that," was the driver's answer. "But there's lots +of mines nearer than the Hop Toad and the Dolphin; lots of 'em." + +"Aren't those good mines?" asked Dick, anxious to get the opinion of +what might be presumed to be an unprejudiced observer. + +"Well, so folks say," was the cautious answer. "All mines is good--until +they're found out to be bad. I guess they're getting gold out of both +mines. Leastways, that's what the men that's working 'em say." + +When the buckboard with its passengers arrived at the Hop Toad mine the +driver called to a man who seemed to be in charge: + +"Say, Nick, here's a crowd of college students that want to see how you +make gold. Any objections?" + +The man addressed looked up quickly. Dick knew at once, from a +description the lawyer had sent to Mr. Hamilton, that the man was Nick +Smith, commonly known as "Forty-niner Smith," an old-time miner, who was +in charge of the active operations at the two mines Dick and his father +were interested in. But Dick resolved not to disclose his own identity +unless it became necessary to do so. + +"Come on, and welcome," responded Forty-niner Smith, with an assumed +heartiness, but Dick did not like the look on the man's face. "We're +just settin' off a blast," the miner went on. "Th' tenderfeet kin see a +bucket full of gold in a minute." + +The boys joined a group of waiting miners, who regarded them curiously. +All about were piles of ore and, not far away, were the ruins of a +stamp-mill. + +"Our stamp's out of business," said Smith, noting Dick's glance at it. +"We send our ore, and that from the Dolphin, down to the Wild Tiger +mill. They're crushing it for us. Ah, boys, there she goes!" + +There was a dull rumble from a hole in the ground, and the earth seemed +to tremble. Then some smoke lazily floated from the mouth of the mine. + +"As soon as it clears away they'll send up some gold ore," went on +Smith, and, in a short time, a big iron bucket came to the surface on a +strong, wire cable. It was filled with what looked like pieces of stone, +but Smith, taking some of the fragments, passed them to Dick. + +"See that yellow stuff!" he exclaimed, pointing to numerous shining +particles. "That's pure gold! Here, take some samples along," he added, +in a burst of generosity. "We'll never miss 'em," and he filled the +hands of the four boys with the precious metal. "This is one of the +richest mines in this locality," he added. "Now come on over and I'll +show you the Dolphin," and he led the way toward the ruins of the +stamp-mill. + +"Somebody dropped a dynamite cartridge near it," he explained as he +passed it. "But we don't mind. We've ordered two new ones. I guess +they've got through blasting here. Yes, here comes some ore," he went on +as a bucket of the stuff that looked like broken cobblestones came to +the surface. + +Dick's heart beat fast. At last he was looking at the mine in which he +had invested two thousand dollars. And, best of all, real gold was being +taken from it. At least it looked like real gold, and had the same +appearance as that from the Hop Toad mine. Besides, if it was not gold, +why would the men work so hard to get it up? + +"Maybe I'm having all my trouble for my pains," thought Dick. "I guess +these mines are good, after all. Vanderhoof may have been a swindler, +but this looks as if dad and I had made good investments." + +"Here, have some of this ore," added Smith, with another show of +generosity. "We'll never miss it. Have it made into watch charms or +scarf pins. That's what lots of 'em do." + +"Can we go down in the mine?" asked Frank Bender. + +"Not to-day," replied Smith, with a sharp look at Dick. "You see it's a +little dangerous, so soon after a blast, unless you've had some +experience. Come out some other day and maybe you can. Glad to see +visitors any time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll have to go and see +about sending some of this ore to the stamp-mill. It's so rich we have +to send a guard with it to protect it from thieves," he added, in a +burst of confidence. + +"Well, I guess we've seen enough," spoke Dick. "Come on, boys." + +As they rode back to the hotel, Dick soon decided on a plan of action. +He would take to a government assayer the ore he and his companions had +received, and learn whether the mine was or was not a good one. This +time there would be no chance for deception, he thought. He had seen, +with his own eyes, the ore taken from the mine. The government assayer, +he knew, would tell the truth about the value of it. Then he could be +satisfied that his investment, as well as his father's, was a good one. + +Explaining his purpose to the boys they readily gave Dick their samples +of ore, though he suggested they save small pieces for souvenirs, which +they did. + +"Maybe you'd better see the lawyer your father wrote to," suggested +Walter Mead, when they were almost at the hotel. + +"Good idea," declared Dick, but he could not carry it out, for, on +inquiring, he learned that the lawyer had gone on a journey and would +not be back for a month. + +"I'll go ahead on my own responsibility," Dick decided. "I think I'll +hunt up the government assayer. I wonder where Tim is?" + +The newsboy was not about the hotel, and, thinking he had gone off to +see the sights, Dick did not look for him. He got the address of the +assayer from the hotel proprietor, and was soon at the official's +office. + +"So you want some of this Hop Toad, and Dolphin ore tested, eh?" +inquired the assayer. "Well, you're not the first person who has brought +me some. I tested some for a man named Hamilton, away out East, some +time ago. His lawyer brought it to me. I found it good then and I guess +it's good yet." + +"Was it really good?" asked Dick, eagerly, and then, judging the +government official could be trusted, he told the object of his western +trip. + +"Young man," said the assayer, when Dick had finished, "I'll tell you +all I know. This ore is good. It's very rich. In fact, I don't need to +assay it to tell that it runs many dollars to the ton. But one thing I +can't tell you to a certainty is that it came from the Hop Toad or +Dolphin mine. You see we assayers have to take the word of the miners as +to where the ore comes from. All we do is to make a test, and, by +finding out how much gold there is to a certain amount of ore, figure +out how much it will assay to a ton of the same ore. That's the basis on +which mines are valued." + +"I can assure you that this ore we have came from the Dolphin and Hop +Toad mines," said Dick. "We saw it taken out." + +"Seeing isn't always believing, when it comes to mines," replied the +assayer. "Still it may have been taken directly from the drifts. I +wouldn't say it to everyone," he went on, "but I believe there is +something crooked about those mines. I have thought so for some time, +but I can't decide just what it is. They have a reputation of being very +rich, and the ore assays well, but I don't like the actions of the men +running them." + +"Do you think I have been cheated?" asked Dick. + +"I do, but I can't give my reasons for it." + +"Then what would you advise?" + +"Well, you're out here to investigate. Keep on investigating. I'm a +government official and I can't take either side. But if I were you," +and he came close to Dick and spoke in a low tone, "I'd visit that mine +when none of the men were around. I think they knew you were coming and +prepared for you." + +"Why?" asked Dick, much surprised. + +"Well, I can't tell you all my reasons now. Do as I advise, and try to +inspect the mines when no one is around." + +"When would be the best time for that?" + +"At night. That's the only time it would be safe. But be very careful. +This is a queer country. Men act quickly out here and they don't always +stop to ask questions before they shoot. But you boys are quick and +sharp and--well, good luck to you, that's all I can say." + +"I'm much obliged to you," answered Dick. "I'll do as you advise." + +As he and his chums left the assayer's office they met Tim, who had +returned to the hotel, and, on inquiring, had learned where they had +gone. + +"Have a good time?" asked Dick, of his newsboy friend. + +"Not so very," replied Tim, rather solemnly. + +"Why not?" + +"Because I was chasin' after a fellow what called himself Simon +Scardale, and I couldn't catch him." + +"Simon Scardale here?" exclaimed Dick. + +"That's what he is, and he's on to our game," replied Tim. "Dick, youse +has got to act quick, I guess." + +For a few moments Dick was too surprised to know what to say. He began +to see through it now. Simon was a friend of Vanderhoof, and, though he +might not be mixed up in the swindling games, he had, likely, given +information that would prevent the millionaire's son from accomplishing +his object. Dick was in a maze. He was not altogether sure that the +mines were a swindle, but he strongly suspected it. Simon's presence in +the western city seemed to argue that some strange game was about to be +played. + +"We must talk this over," decided Dick. "Come on, boys. We'll go back +to the hotel and have a conference. Then we can decide what to do." + +In Dick's room the chums went over all the points of the matter. But, +try as they did, they could not see a reason for Simon's presence in +Yazoo City, nor for his remarks to Tim. + +"But dat government feller give youse good advice," declared the +newsboy. "Why don't youse go out to de mine? Maybe youse kin git on to +der game. I'm wid youse." + +"I believe I will," decided Dick. "Tim, you and Frank and I will go. +Yes, Walter, you and Bricktop had better stay at the hotel," he added, +as he saw a look of disappointment come over the faces of the other two +boys. "Five would be too many, and, by some of us staying here, there +will be less liability of suspicion. We'll make a night trip to the mine +and, if it's at all possible, I'll go down inside." + +"Dat's de way to talk!" exclaimed Tim. + +Cautiously they made their plans. Dick decided he and his two companions +would walk to the mines, as, if they hired a rig, it would become known +to Smith or Simon, who were probably spying on their actions. Tim +related how he had tried to follow Simon when he rode off on the pony, +but had been unsuccessful. + +"It's a nice moonlight night," said Dick, when the plans had been made. +"We can take some candles with us and I guess we can get down the cable +at the mine. Then we'll see if there's any crooked work going on." + +After supper Tim, Frank and Dick started off. They little realized what +was before them, or perhaps they would not have been so light-hearted. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +DOWN IN A GOLD MINE + + +"It's going to take over two hours to get out there," said Dick, as he +and his companions tramped on. "I don't know how long we'll stay. It all +depends on circumstances. If they discover us we'll not stay as long as +we otherwise would," and he laughed. "But I guess it's an all-night job. +Well, the road is a good one, and it's a nice night." + +"That's what it is," answered Frank. "That moon looks as if it was pure +silver, hung up there in the sky." + +"You're getting poetical," commented Dick. + +"Dat oughter be a gold moon to be right in de swim," was Tim's opinion. + +"What do you expect to do when you get to the mine?" asked Frank, as, +now that they were beyond the borders of Yazoo City, they were not +afraid to talk of their object. + +"I hardly know," answered Dick. "What I want to find out is whether or +not that mine is a fake one." + +"How do youse tell a fake gold mine?" asked Tim. "Is it like a lead +nickel or counterfeit money so youse can tell by bitin' a chunk of it?" + +"Hardly," replied Dick, with a laugh. "I've been reading up about mines +lately, and, according to the book, the most common way of making a fake +mine is to 'salt' it, or 'sweat' it." + +"Salt it?" repeated Frank. "I've heard of salting cattle, but never +mines." + +"That doesn't describe it very well," went on Dick, "but that's what +they call it. Sometimes it is termed 'sweating.' By either way it means +making the ore in the mine look as if it was filled with gold, when, in +fact, the gold had only been put there by some man who wanted a +worthless mine to look like a good one." + +"How do they do it?" asked Tim. + +"The most common way is to take some real gold dust, put it into a +shotgun, load it heavily with powder and shoot it at the side of the +mine. The gold particles are shot into the rock a little way and it +appears like real ore. They do this several times down the sides of a +rocky mine and it looks very much like the real thing. After a man has +bought the mine and begins to dig, he discovers it's all a fake." + +"Wow!" exclaimed Tim. "T'ink of shootin' gold out of a gun. I wish +somebody'd take a few shots at me. Easy ones, of course, so's I could +live to enjoy it." + +"There are other ways of making fake mines," went on Dick, "but I +didn't read much about them." + +"Do you think the Hop Toad and Dolphin mines are fakes?" asked Frank. + +"That's what I'm afraid of. But I'm pretty sure Smith and his +confederates didn't use any such method as shooting the gold into the +rocks. It's in too deep for that, and they could hardly hope to fool the +assayer that way. No, they must have some new scheme, and maybe I can +discover it." + +The boys walked along briskly, and, almost before they realized it, they +saw that they were approaching the mine. + +"Now, go easy," advised Dick. "We first want to see if there is anyone +in sight. If not, we'll take a trip down." + +Near the mouth of the shaft was some machinery used to lift the bucket +from the mine. The boys could see the dull gleam of the coals under the +boiler of the hoisting apparatus, for the fire had been banked. But +there was no sign of anyone around, and, after peering cautiously about, +the boys reached the edge of the shaft. + +"Now, if dey had an elevator fer us it would be dead easy," spoke Tim. +"But I don't see how youse is goin' to git down." + +"Wait until I take a look," replied Dick. + +He approached the mouth of the mine and uttered an exclamation that +brought the other boys to his side. + +"There's a ladder leading down," he said. "We can use that. Now to +explore a gold mine." + +Seeing that he had his candles and matches ready, Dick began to descend. +The other boys waited until he was down some distance and then followed. +The ladder, as they could see, was built against the side of the shaft, +and it was far enough away so that the ascending or descending bucket +did not touch it. + +"Hold on!" cried Dick, from the dark depths. "I'm going to light a +candle." + +Presently a faint gleam came up the shaft, and Tim and Frank could make +out Dick's form standing below them on a rung of the ladder. They also +lighted candles, and the descent continued. In about a minute Dick +called again: + +"Easy now, fellows; I've struck bottom. Got down to the first level, I +guess." + +In a little while Tim and Frank joined him. They found they were +standing in a sort of cave, hollowed out under ground. Resting at the +foot of the shaft was a big bucket, attached to the wire cable that +extended to the hoisting drum. + +"Is dis all dere is to de mine?" asked Tim. + +"No, there seems to be a gallery leading off to no one knows where," +replied Dick, pointing to a gloomy hole. "Come on, boys, I haven't seen +any gold yet," and he waved his candle to and fro. It flickered over the +rocky walls of the mine. They glistened with water that oozed from many +crevices, but there was no glitter of the precious metal. + +The boys walked cautiously along the gallery, or tunnel, that extended +at right angles to the perpendicular shaft. Suddenly, Dick, who was in +the lead, stopped short. + +"Hush!" he exclaimed, in a whisper. "I hear voices." + +The boys listened. From somewhere in the darkness ahead of them came an +indistinct murmur. + +"Come ahead, easy!" whispered the millionaire's son. + +They advanced on tiptoes. The murmur of voices became louder. Then, as +the boys made a turn in the tunnel, a strange scene was suddenly +presented to them. + +In a sort of cave, formed by the widening of the gallery, a number of +men stood in a group. Several torches, stuck into cracks in the rocky +wall, gave light. But, strangest of all, was the occupation of the men. + +One of them was stirring what seemed like a mass of mortar in a wooden +box, such as masons use. Into it another was pouring from a sack, +gleaming, golden, yellow particles, which, as the light gleamed on them, +glittered like gold. + +"Seems like throwing the yellow stuff away," remarked the man who held +the sack. + +"What of it. We'll get it back five times over," replied the one who, +with a hoe, was stirring the stuff. "It's like planting gold in a +garden. It grows, you know. This mine is our garden." + +"They're 'salting' the mine," whispered Dick to his companions. + +Off to one side another man was drilling holes in the soft rock. The +musical clink of his hammer on the drill sounded faint and far off, so +muffled was it. + +"Haven't you got that stuff ready yet?" called the man with the drill. +"I've got all the holes bored. Hurry up and get it in or it won't be +hard by to-morrow, and there's no telling when that Hamilton kid may +take a notion to drop in and visit his mine," and he laughed. + +"Oh, I guess I can keep him away for a few days yet," answered one, whom +Dick recognized as Forty-niner Smith. "I've got a game I haven't played. +But I guess this stuff is mixed enough. Say, it's the best scheme I've +struck yet for 'sweating' a mine. Beats the shotguns all to pieces." + +From their hiding place the boys watched what the men did. The mixture +with the gold particles in it was poured into the holes the man had dug. +The boys could see now that it was not mortar, but concrete, which was +being used. To Dick the whole scheme was now plain. + +The men poured a lot of gold dust into some concrete, and mixed it up +with water until it was about as thick as paste. Then they put it into +holes drilled in the rocky walls of the mine. The concrete hardened and +became almost like the rock itself. Then, when a blast was set off, the +rock, concrete and gold was all blown into small pieces, so that it +looked as if the ore was of good, gold-bearing quality, whereas it was +nothing but ordinary rock "salted." + +That was how the men were working to fool investors. They had taken an +abandoned mine, from which all the gold had been dug, and, by this +ingenious method, made it look, to the ignorant, as though it was a +regular bonanza. + +"Well," remarked Dick, in a whisper, "we've discovered the trick. I +guess dad's money and mine, too, is 'gone up the flume,' as the miners +say. But I'm glad----" + +At that moment, Frank, who was balancing himself on a bit of rock, in +order to see better, stumbled and fell, making quite a noise. The men +turned as if a shot had been fired. + +"What's that?" asked Smith, in a hoarse whisper. + +"Some loose rock caving in," answered one of the men. "Come on, finish +up. We've only got one more hole to fill, and by that time Nash will be +ready to hoist us up." + +"That wasn't falling rock!" declared Smith. "Boys, I believe someone is +spying on us. I'm going to take a look." + +Seizing one of the torches he started toward where Dick and his +companions were hiding. + +"Come on!" exclaimed the millionaire's son, pulling Tim and Frank by +the arm. "We've got to get out of this!" + +They turned and ran, their footsteps echoing on the rocky floor of the +mine. They could hear Smith coming after them. His torch flashed around +the turn in the gallery. He caught sight of them. + +"Stop!" he cried. "Stop or I'll shoot!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +SIMON'S CONFESSION + + +Dick gave a hurried look behind him. He could see something shining in +Smith's hand--something that the light from the torch glinted on. + +"Keep on!" hoarsely whispered Tim. "He can't hit us down here. Keep on!" + +Stumbling, almost falling, their candles showing but faint blue points +of light as the flame flickered away from the wicks because of their +speed, the boys ran toward the bottom of the shaft. + +"If we reach the ladder I think we can get away," said Frank, panting +from his exertion. + +It seemed as if it was a mile back to the shaft, but it was only a few +hundred feet. The boys expected every minute to hear the shot ring out. +They caught the sounds of the footfalls of their pursuer and they +sounded nearer and nearer. He was familiar with the gallery and his +torch gave him better light to go by than did the candles give the boys. + +Once more the angry miner's voice called: + +"Hold on, whoever you are, or I'll shoot!" + +"Quick! There's the shaft!" exclaimed Dick, pointing to where the big +bucket rested at the bottom of the opening. + +The boys made a rush for it. At the same instant a shot rang out in the +darkness, the flash from the revolver lighting up the mine cavern with +sudden glare. They could hear the bullet strike far above their heads +with a vicious "ping!" Clearly, Smith was only firing to scare them, and +did not want to run any chances of hurting them, as he had aimed high. + +Then a strange thing happened. The cable, attached to the bucket, began +to wind upward. There was considerable slack to it and the bucket did +not immediately follow. It was evident that the machinery at the shaft +mouth had started and that the ore-carrier was about to be hoisted up. +An inspiration came to Dick. + +"Into the bucket!" he called. "It's big enough to hold us all and we'll +be hauled to the top! We can escape that way!" + +Tim and Frank needed no further urging. They clambered over the iron +sides of the bucket, followed by Dick. And not a second too soon, for, +as he set his feet on the iron bottom, the cable tauted and the bucket +started upward. + +"Come back here!" yelled Smith, reaching the bottom of the shaft just in +time to see the conveyor disappearing. He made an ineffectual grab for +it, but, as his torch flared up when he threw it on the ground, the +better to use his hands, Dick, looking over the edge of the iron +receptacle, saw that the ugly miner was fifteen feet below them. + +"Pull your head in!" advised Frank. "He might shoot!" + +But Smith had no such intentions. Making a sort of megaphone of his +hands, he shouted up the shaft: + +"Nash! Nash! Stop the engine! Don't hoist the bucket! We're not in it!" + +But the engineer at the mouth of the shaft never heard him. Higher and +higher went the bucket, carrying the boys. They looked up the black +opening and could see the moon shining overhead. + +"Lucky escape!" murmured Dick. "I wonder how that bucket came to go up +just when we needed it most?" + +He learned a minute later. As the conveyor reached the surface and +stopped, Dick and his friends stepped out. They saw that the fire under +the boiler was burning brightly, and that a man, who had not been there +when they arrived, was attending to the hoisting engine. As he caught +sight of them he exclaimed: + +"Who are you? Where's Smith?" + +"Down there," replied Dick, not caring to go into details. "Come on, +boys." + +"But something's wrong," went on Nash, the engineer. "I was told to come +here about one o'clock, get up steam and be ready to hoist the bucket +when I heard a revolver shot. I heard it and I hoisted away. But where's +Smith and his men? He told me he'd fire a shot when he was ready to come +up. I heard it plain enough, but who are you?" + +"Smith will explain," replied Dick. "We came up first, that's all," he +added, coolly. "Come on, boys." + +Leaving behind them a much-puzzled engineer, the three boys hurried away +from the mine. They were soon on the road leading back to Yazoo City. + +"Do you think they'll chase us?" asked Frank. + +"I don't believe so," replied Dick. "I guess Smith is worried enough as +it is. He may suspect who we were, but I don't believe he knows for +certain. However, we'll keep in the shadows for a way." + +This they did, but there was no need of apprehension, for none of the +miners pursued them. + +"Well, youse had your money's worth of excitement, anyway," commented +Tim. "Say, I t'ought it was all up wid me dere, one spell. But youse had +your nerve wid you, Mr. Dick." + +"Well, we had some luck with us, too," replied the millionaire's son. +"Those fellows played right into our hands. They must have gone down the +mine early in the evening, and arranged with the engineer to come back, +when they were finished with their 'salting' process, to hoist up their +tools and things so as to leave nothing suspicious around. When Smith +fired at us the engineer, who arrived after we had gone down the mine, +thought it was the signal agreed upon and he hoisted away. I guess he +was surprised when he saw us get out of the bucket." + +"And I guess Smith will be surprised when he finds out you know how he +and his gang fixed up the fake mine," remarked Frank. + +"I guess the best plan will be to say nothing to him about it," said +Dick. "I don't see anything for me to do but go back home and report to +dad. We've been swindled, and I'm out two thousand dollars. I don't know +how much he lost. The Hop Toad and Dolphin mines aren't worth anything, +I'm afraid." + +"Did youse lose two t'ousand dollars?" asked Tim, as the boys hurried +along the moonlit road. + +"I'm afraid so." + +"An' youse ain't agoin' to faint over it? Say, youse has got nerve, +youse has," added the newsboy, admiringly. "Youse oughter be in N' York. +How'd you come to put so much money in a fake mine?" + +"I didn't know it was a fake," replied the wealthy youth. + +The boys reached their hotel in the gray dawn of the early morning. They +were worn out and tired from their long tramp and the excitement of the +night. As they entered the lobby, where a sleepy clerk was on duty +behind the desk, the latter called to them: + +"I say, is one of you named Dick Hamilton?" + +"I am," replied the millionaire's son. + +"Well, I've got a message for you from a lad named Simon Scardale." + +"Simon Scardale?" repeated Dick. + +"Yes. He was badly hurt last night by a fall from a horse he was riding. +He's over at the other hotel, and he sent word that he wanted to see +Dick Hamilton as soon as he came in. I looked over the register, but I +couldn't see anyone by that name, and I thought he'd made a mistake." + +Dick recalled his scrawling signature on the book, and did not wonder +that the clerk could not make it out. + +Telling Tim and Frank to go upstairs and notify Bricktop and Walter of +their safe arrival, Dick started for the Imperial Inn. He found the +night clerk on duty, and, telling his object, was shown upstairs by a +sleepy bell-boy. + +As he entered the room he saw Simon in bed. The youth's face was pale, +and his head was covered with bandages. Two doctors were within call. + +"Is that you, Dick Hamilton?" he asked in a weak voice. + +"Yes. What do you want, Simon?" inquired Dick, softly, for the sight of +Simon's sufferings banished all resentment. + +"I'm afraid I'm badly hurt," went on Simon, "and I want to tell you +something before--before I go away from here. Come closer." + +"Now don't excite yourself," advised one of the doctors. + +"I won't, but I must tell Dick," went on Simon. "I'm sorry I put up that +game to steal Grit," he said, almost in a whisper. "But I needed money +very much and I didn't see any other way to get it. Guy didn't have +anything to do with it." + +"I know," said Dick, softly. + +"I played another mean trick on you," went on the injured youth. "I've +been spying on you for Vanderhoof. After I got Grit and you saw me that +day at the hotel, I was afraid. I knew Vanderhoof, or Colonel Dendon, as +he sometimes calls himself, and I went to him. He said he could give me +a job out West and he sent me here. Then, I guess it must have been the +day you started, he telegraphed me to be on the lookout for you, and to +inform Forty-niner Smith when you arrived. I did." + +"Were you in the game to help work off a worthless mine on me?" asked +Dick, a little resentfully. + +"No, no," replied Simon, earnestly. "I only learned of that by accident. +When I found out the mines were no good I was going to have nothing more +to do with any of the gang. But Smith told me your father had once got +the best of Vanderhoof in a business deal and that this was the only way +they could get their money back--to sell him a worthless mine. They +said it was done every day and--and I believed them. I only kept them +informed of your movements so they could fix things up to--to deceive +you, I suppose." + +"Yes," assented Dick. + +"But I'm done with 'em now," went on Simon. "I was riding out to the +mine to-night, after I saw you three start for it. Oh, I kept close +watch on you," he said in answer to Dick's look of surprise. "I started +for the mine to warn them you were coming, as I knew they were going to +do some 'salting.' My horse threw me before I'd gone far and--well, I'm +pretty badly hurt, I guess." + +"Now that will do," interrupted one of the physicians. "You can tell the +rest another time. You must be quiet now." + +"There isn't any more to tell," said Simon, in a whisper. "That's all, +Dick, but I feel better for having told you." + +"Well, Simon," said the millionaire's son, "I'm sorry you are hurt. I +forgive you. I guess you didn't realize what you were doing." + +"That's it. I never realized what bad men Vanderhoof, Smith and the +others were. I'm done with them forever. I guess I can go to sleep now." + +He turned over and closed his eyes. Dick softly left the room, followed +by one of the doctors. + +"Is he badly hurt?" he asked of the medical man, when they were out in +the corridor. + +"Well, he is hurt internally. I think we can pull him through with +careful nursing. Is he a friend of yours?" + +"I used to think he was," answered Dick. "I guess he got into bad +company, that's the trouble. I'd like to help him if I could. Here, +doctor, take this and see that he has good nursing, will you, please," +and Dick thrust a hundred-dollar bill into the physician's hand. + +"But this--this is quite a sum of money." + +"Well, I guess dad would want me to spend it," replied Dick. "I've got +lots more. Anyhow, I couldn't bear to think of Simon suffering, even if +he did do me some mean turns. Will you look after him, doctor? I've got +to go back East." + +"I will, young man, and he can thank you for befriending him. I guess +those men won't have anything more to do with him after this, and it's +hard for a lad like him to be sick in a wild country like this. I'll see +that he has the best of care." + +Pondering over the strange events of the last few hours, Dick went back +to his hotel. It was now nearly breakfast-time and he was ready for the +meal, especially the hot coffee. Tim and Frank, also, did full justice +to it, and then, being very sleepy, they went to bed, as did Dick. + +"We'll start back home to-morrow," the millionaire's son said to his +chums as he went to his room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE PANIC + + +Although a little apprehensive that Smith and his gang might make +trouble for him, Dick leisurely made his preparations for going back +East, when, late in the afternoon, after a long slumber, he awoke much +refreshed. But the miner and his men did not appear in Yazoo City. Dick +called on the government assayer and told him what he and his chums had +seen. + +"That's a new way of 'salting' a mine," the official said. "A very good +one, too, from a swindler's standpoint. Now, if you want to, you can +make a complaint against those men and have them arrested." + +"I'm afraid it wouldn't make the mines any good, or save the money dad +and I put into them," said Dick. + +"No, I don't believe it would. Besides, they are a slick crowd, I +suppose, and you'd have trouble convicting them. Perhaps it is better to +let it drop. I'll be on the watch, however, and if I hear of anyone +about to invest in the stock of any mines Smith and his men are +interested in I'll warn him." + +Dick called to say good-bye to Simon. He found the bad boy a little +improved, and when informed that he would be well taken care of the +tears came into the eyes of the youth who had done so much to injure +Dick. + +"You--you're a brick!" he stammered. "I don't deserve it, but if--if I +ever get well maybe I can do something for you." + +"Oh, that's all right," replied Dick, somewhat affected by Simon's +misery. "You'll soon be as well as ever, and when you do get around +again, you'd better steer clear of such men as Colonel Dendon." + +"I will," promised Simon, and he tried to return the pressure of Dick's +hand, but it was hard work, for he was very weak. + +Early the next morning Dick and his friends started for home. Dick was a +little thoughtful, and Frank asked: + +"Worrying about your lost money, Dick?" + +"Well, not so much about the money as I am over the consequences. I +counted on this mine investment being a good one. But, I have another. I +guess my stock in the milk concern will pan out pretty well." + +"If it don't youse had better come to N' York wid me, an' sell papes," +advised Tim. + +"I'll think of it," promised Dick, with a smile. + +The ride back home was uneventful. Tim decided he would not go back to +Hamilton Corners, as he was anxious to get to New York. + +"Got to look after me paper business," he said, with a laugh. "I left +me pardner in charge an' he's a little chap. Some of de big guys might +drive him offen de swell corner we has. It's de best corner in N' York +fer doin' business," he explained. "I stands in wid de cop on de beat +an' he sees I ain't bothered. But I'm gittin' worried. I see some of de +yellow journals is predictin' bad times an' I wants to be prepared for +'em. Besides, I've got some customers what owe me--one man run up a bill +of a quarter jest 'fore I went on dat fresh-air racket, an' I want to +collect it. So I t'ink I'll git back to little old N' York." + +The boys parted from Tim with regret, for they liked his sterling +character, which shone out through a coat of rough manners. He changed +at a junction point for a train that went direct to the big city, and +gaily waved his hand to them as it departed. He had profited much by +coming to Hamilton Corners, for Dick had fitted him up with some good +clothes, and, at parting, had slipped a bank bill into his hand. + +Mr. Hamilton was glad to see his son back, and listened with interest to +the account of the western trip. + +"And so our money is gone," finished Dick. + +"Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk, as the farmer's wife +used to say," remarked the millionaire, with a calmness that Dick could +not help envying. "It isn't the first time I've lost money by unwise +speculation, but it's all in the game. I'm sorry for you, though, +Dick." + +"I'm sorry for myself. It looks as if I had a poor head for business." + +"Oh, you'll learn," consoled his father. "It takes time." + +"Yes, and there's Uncle Ezra waiting for me," went on Dick, as though he +could see the harsh old man outside in a carriage, waiting to carry him +off to the gloomy Firs. "When he hears of this he'll think sure I'm +doomed to go and board with him." + +"The year is quite a way from being completed," said Mr. Hamilton. "Lots +of things may happen before your next birthday." + +"I hope they do," said Dick, rather ruefully. "Anyway, I have my milk +stock. They didn't send for another assessment while I was away, did +they?" + +"No, and I see the stock has advanced in value a point or two." + +"Then I may be all right, after all. But I think I'll be on the lookout +for another investment, and it's not going to be a gold mine, either," +finished Dick. + +It was about a week after this that, coming down to breakfast one +morning, Dick was met by the butler. + +"There's a gentleman waiting to see you, Master Dick," said the servant. + +"To see me, Gibbs? Who is it?" + +"I don't know, but he came very early and he says he has something to +show you. He says he wants you to help him with it." + +"Maybe it's another of those reporters," said Dick. "I will see him +right after breakfast." + +"I'd rather you see me now," interrupted a voice, and to Dick's +astonishment there walked into the dining-room, from the library where +he had been waiting, a little man, whose hair seemed to stick out at +every point of the compass. His clothes were rather ragged, and, as he +advanced, he kept running his hands through his hair. To do this he had +to transfer, first from one arm to the other, a large box he carried. + +"I'll not take much of your time," said the little man. "All I want is +your assistance in having a lot of these machines made. You see how this +one works," and, stooping over, he placed the box on the floor. From it +came a clicking sound, as the little man, with his head tilted to one +side, waited with watch in hand. + +"It will go off in three minutes," he said. + +Following the startling announcement of the little man Dick and Gibbs, +the butler, seemed paralyzed. The room was so still that the ticking of +the machine on the floor sounded like an immense alarm clock. Then, as +the seconds passed and the stranger stood calmly looking alternately at +Dick, Gibbs, and the box, the butler, with a sudden start back to life, +exclaimed: + +"Jump out of the window, Master Dick! I'll attend to this lunatic!" + +"I'm not a lunatic!" shouted the little man. "I'm Professor +Messapatomia!" + +"Jump!" shouted Gibbs to Dick. "It isn't far to the ground. This thing +will go off in a minute!" + +"Half a minute," calmly corrected the stranger, as he snapped his watch +shut. At that instant Mary, the waitress, came into the room with a +large pitcher of water. As Dick turned to flee, for he realized that he +might be courting death to remain, should the lunatic's infernal +apparatus go off, Gibbs grabbed the pitcher. + +"I'll fix it!" the butler cried, throwing the water at the ticking +machine. "But jump, all the same, Master Dick!" + +As Dick prepared to jump from one of the dining-room windows, believing +that, as he had often read of such things occurring, he was to be made +the victim of a crank, the machine gave a louder click. Professor +Messapatomia, with a sudden motion of his arm, diverted the aim of +Gibbs, and the water flew to one side of the box. At the same moment +there was a jar, as from a heavy spring, and a shower of white objects +scattered about the room. + +"There!" exclaimed the professor, triumphantly, "that's how it works! +Very simple, you see, and it scatters the bait all around. Then all you +have to do is to take your pole and line and catch all the fish you +want." + +"Fish!" repeated Dick, somewhat in a daze. He had expected the house to +be half-blown apart, yet the machine only scattered harmless pieces of +paper about. + +"Fish, of course," replied the professor, "What did you think this was?" + +"Aren't you an Anarchist, and isn't that an infernal machine?" demanded +Gibbs, wiping away some of the water he had accidentally spilled over +his head when the professor knocked up his arm. + +"Anarchist? Infernal machine?" repeated Professor Messapatomia. "Why, my +dear sir, that is my latest invention of a fish-catching device. You +see, you wind up the spring, and you set it to go off at any hour you +wish. Then you put some finely chopped pieces of meat in this top pan. +That is the bait. Only in this case, as I didn't want to muss up the +room, I used bits of paper. At the proper time the machine, which you +have set beside the stream where you desire to fish, goes off. The bait +is thrown all over the surface of the water. It attracts the fish, and +when you throw in your line you have no end of bites. It's the greatest +idea of the age! It will revolutionize fishing! It's simply marvelous! + +"I have just perfected the invention, but I need money to put the +machine on the market. You, sir," turning to Dick, "are just the person +to help me. I read of your immense wealth and that you are fond of all +sports. Fishing is a sport, therefore I came to you. All I need is ten +thousand dollars and it will make both of us rich in a year. Now, if +you will kindly write me out a check for that amount, I'll bid you +good-morning, and you can go on with your breakfast which I have +interrupted." + +He began to pick up the scattered bits of paper, Mary helping him, while +Gibbs gazed rather stupidly at the queer figure with the bristling hair. +Then Dick laughed. + +"Well, you certainly gave me a scare," he said. "I thought you wanted to +blow the place up. But I'm sorry I can't invest ten thousand dollars in +that machine. It seems to me it would be just as easy to stand on the +shore and throw the pieces of meat in the water by hand." + +"Yes, of course, you could do it that way," admitted the professor, "but +it isn't half so scientific. However, I'll not urge you," and, picking +up his apparatus, he left the room after a low bow to Dick. + +"He went away with less trouble than I expected," remarked Dick, as he +looked at the wet place on the floor and at some of the bits of paper +that still remained. "Well, Gibbs, I admit I was scared for a minute." + +"So was I, Master Dick. I shouldn't have let him in, only you had given +orders that all respectable-looking visitors were to be treated nicely, +and I'm sure he looked respectable in spite of his queer hair." + +"Oh, yes, he was respectable, all right. It's not your fault, Gibbs. I +guess I'll have to draw the line about callers a little closer," +concluded Dick as he sat down to breakfast. + +The summer passed away and fall came. Dick returned to the academy, +where he renewed his studies. Several times he was on the point of +making another investment, but, as the stock of the milk company went up +in value, he felt that this would answer the requirements of his +mother's will, and furnish the profit called for. So, though he +investigated many schemes that seemed to promise well, he did not take +any stock in them. + +It was in May of the following spring, when, having looked at a +quotation of his milk stock, and found that it was a little higher than +it had ever been before, Dick walked down to his father's bank to +consult him about certain matters. + +He found Mr. Hamilton in his private office, but the millionaire did not +have a cheerful smile on his face. Instead he looked troubled. + +"What's the matter, dad?" asked Dick. + +"Well, I don't like the way the money market looks in New York," was the +answer. "I've just heard by telegraph that several large banks have +failed." + +"Does it involve you?" + +"To a certain extent, yes. Things look like a panic, such as we had a +few years ago. Still, it may blow over." + +"I wonder if it will affect the milk company?" + +"It might. But there, Dick, don't go to worrying. You'll have enough of +that to do when you get older. Things may turn out all right." But the +worried look did not leave Mr. Hamilton's face, in spite of his attempt +to cheer up his son. + +The next morning when Dick came down to breakfast he saw his father at +the table. But, instead of eating, the millionaire was eagerly looking +at a newspaper. Dick glanced over his father's shoulder. There, staring +at him, in big black letters, was the heading of a long article: + + GREAT MONEY PANIC! + +"Are things--are things in bad shape, dad?" asked Dick. + +"Pretty much so," replied Mr. Hamilton, not looking up. "It's not as bad +as I feared, though, and our bank will not suffer. However, lots of +small concerns, and some big ones, have failed." + +Then Dick caught sight of another part of the paper. He could hardly +believe his eyes, for, in a prominent part of the page, was an article +telling of the failure of the big milk concern in which he had invested. + +"Dad!" he exclaimed, taking hold of the paper, and pointing to the +account. + +"Yes," replied Mr. Hamilton. "I saw it. Your investment is a failure, +Dick." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +HENRY IN TROUBLE + + +For a few moments father and son looked at each other. Dick hardly knew +what to say, but the millionaire was evidently used to harder business +disappointments than the present one, for he laughed and remarked: + +"Never mind, Dick. You made a good attempt, but you failed. You have +over a month yet in which to comply with the terms of the will. In that +time you ought to be able to find some good, paying investment. Look +over the paper. There's lots of bad financial news in it, but you may +find some good. I must hurry to the bank. This panic will affect a +number of our customers. I'm going to be very busy for some days to +come." + +Mr. Hamilton continued with his breakfast as if nothing had happened, +but poor Dick's appetite vanished. He had counted so much on his shares +in the milk company paying well that he had never thought of failure. +Particularly as, of late, they had seemingly increased in value. But, as +he learned by looking over the paper after his father left, many older +and stronger concerns than the milk company in which he was interested +had failed. + +"Panics are bad things," murmured Dick, which sentiment was echoed by +many another person that day. + +Still Dick was not too much cast down. He knew he was a very wealthy +young man, and he had no fear that his father's millions would be +disturbed in the general hard times that would be sure to follow. But it +hurt his pride that, with all his wealth, he could not do as much as +little Tim Muldoon had done--start with nothing and make money. + +"I'm almost ready to sell papers," mused Dick, with a smile. + +However, he decided to do nothing rash. He still had more than a month +until his birthday--the time limit for making the paying investment--and +he felt that in that period something would occur that would enable him +to fulfil the conditions of his mother's will. + +"At any rate, I've got to go to school to-day," he said to himself, as +he finished what, for him, was rather a slim breakfast. "I guess I'll +come out right in the end. In fact, I've got to if I want to escape +Uncle Ezra's clutches." + +As Dick was coming home from his classes that afternoon, turning over in +his mind various plans for making a good investment--from growing +mushrooms or raising squabs to starting a brass band or becoming +proprietor of a small circus--he saw coming toward him a dilapidated +rig. He knew it could be none other than that of Henry Darby. As the +horse and wagon approached it seemed to Dick to look, more than ever, +ready to fall apart. + +"Well, Henry," he remarked. "I see you're still in business. The panic +hasn't bothered you, has it?" + +"Not me, so much as it has the horse and wagon," replied Henry, with a +laugh. "Don't you think that beast's ribs are nearer caving in than they +were the last time you saw it?" + +"He does look thinner, for a fact," admitted Dick. + +"He is," and Henry spoke with solemn earnestness. "They were almost +touching on either side this morning, but I gave him all the hay I could +afford and that sort of spread them apart. As for the wagon--well, I +don't need any bell or automobile horn to tell people I'm coming. It +rattles enough to be heard two blocks off." + +"Why don't you get a better outfit?" suggested Dick. "I should think it +would pay." + +"It might pay, but I couldn't. I'll have to get along with this for a +while," and Henry looked at the odd assortment of old metal he had +collected and was taking to his storage yard. + +"Isn't the business paying as well as you thought it would, Henry?" + +"Oh, the business is all right. The trouble is the way the president +manages it," and Henry smiled ruefully. "You remember I told you dad +had taken most of the surplus capital for one of his schemes," and he +looked inquiringly at Dick. + +"Yes, I remember, you said he thought there were thousands of dollars in +it." + +"Well, they're still there," said Henry, with dry humor. "Dad hasn't +been able to induce 'em to come forth and nestle in his or my pockets. +That's why I haven't enough money to buy a new horse and wagon. If I had +it I could cover more ground in a day and do more business. As for +this--this--well, I don't know what to call him. He reminds me of a heap +of old iron, sticking out seven ways from Sunday, as the old saying is. +You see his bones stick out like so many points." + +"They do, for a fact," and Dick looked at the horse, that presented more +angles than he had ever before imagined a horse possessed. + +"There's one consolation," went on Henry. "He's cheap, but there's +another disadvantage, he looks it. So does the wagon. Whenever I start +away from home to collect old metal I always tell dad not to worry if I +don't get back that night. There's no telling which will break down +first--the horse or the wagon. It's like taking a voyage in a sailing +ship, no telling when you'll arrive. + +"Still," he went on, "there's one advantage. It keeps my journeys from +being monotonous. Nothing like having a horse that may develop spavin, +ring bone or heaves on the road any minute, or a wagon that may drop +all four wheels at once and break every spring. It keeps me from getting +lonesome." + +"I'm sorry to hear the old metal business is so poor," remarked Dick. +"What caused the trouble?" + +"Well, dad got an idea that he knew a lot about old iron and such +things. He started in to do the buying and I was to go after the stuff, +when he had purchased it, and bring it home. He did buy some iron scrap +and a lot of old horseshoes that I made a profit on. Then he heard of +some metal at an old factory. Someone told him it had a lot of platinum +in it. Now, platinum is very valuable. Dad thought he had struck a +bargain. He paid a big price for the stuff. In fact, he used up every +cent I had put away in order to get hold of that metal he thought had +platinum in it." + +"Didn't it?" asked Dick, as Henry stopped. + +"Not a bit. Someone worked off a lot of steel and iron mixed, on poor +old dad. I can't sell it anywhere. It's a peculiar mixture of metal. +Some new company had it made for their machinery and they busted up. +I've got the stuff back in the storage yard now. Can't get rid of it, +though I've tried all over. That's where all my money is. So I have to +begin all over again." + +"It's too bad," said Dick, with ready sympathy. + +"Yes, dad felt quite cut-up over it--for a few days. Then he thought of +a new scheme. He says it'll make our fortune if he can only work it. But +he hasn't any capital to start it, and, until I work some up in a small +way, I haven't any, either. But there, I'm sorry I bothered you with all +my troubles. I guess you have enough of your own. I'll pull out +somehow." And calling to the horse, that had gone to sleep, Henry +managed to arouse the animal and started off, the wagon rattling like a +load of steel girders. + +"Everything seems to be going wrong," murmured Dick, as he walked toward +home. "I guess I'll have to help Henry along some more. He deserves it. +And I must do something about my own investment. The time is getting +shorter." + +For two weeks Dick thought over many plans, but as fast as he made them +he rejected them. Some his father advised him against, and others, after +consideration, he decided would not give an adequate return for money +invested. He was getting worried, for it was only a little more than a +month until his birthday, when, if he had not complied with the +provisions of the will, he must spend a year with his Uncle Ezra. The +thought of that made him gloomy indeed. + +He had almost decided, one afternoon, to put some money in a small +ice-cream store, which he heard was being started at Lake Dunkirk for +the summer excursion season. + +"There ought to be good money in that," reasoned Dick. "I could get a +lot of my friends to buy ice-cream there and it would help me to make a +profit. I think I'll look up the manager and see if he'll take a +partner." + +He was about to go out, to put his newly-formed resolution into +operation, when the maid announced a gentleman to see him. + +"Who is it?" asked Dick. + +"He won't tell me his name. He insists on seeing you at once." + +"Another crank, I suppose. I thought they were done coming here. Well, +show him in." + +A moment later there entered the room a little man, with a long white +beard and snow-white hair. He had the jolliest face imaginable, and +looked just like a picture of Santa Claus. + +"Allow me to introduce myself," he said, with a German accent. "I am +Herr Wilhelm Doodlebrod, und I haf de airship at der freight station. +When can I gif you an exhibition?" + +"Airship?" murmured Dick, in bewilderment, While Herr Doodlebrod nodded +several times and chuckled, as if it was the best joke in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE FLYING MACHINE. + + +Dick looked closely at Herr Doodlebrod, as if to see if the German had a +bomb concealed about him, for the millionaire's son believed the man was +another of the unfortunate persons who had some impossible scheme he +wanted aid in perfecting. + +"You vill like der airship, yes?" went on the smiling, little, old man. +"Ah, he is a beautiful airship!--so strong, so graceful, und he sails +along so just like a bird!" + +Again he smiled, and then he laughed, as though he had just told Dick a +very funny story. The German's good nature was catching, and Dick also +smiled. + +"I'm afraid I don't quite understand you," the boy said. + +"Ach! Dot is easy!" replied Herr Doodlebrod. "See, listen, it is dis +vay. I am de greatest inventor of an airships vot efer vas," and he said +it as if he meant it, with child-like directness, "I haf der ship vot +all der scientists haf long been vaiting for. I haf bring him to your +town und I show you how he vorks." + +"But why did you bring it to me?" asked Dick. + +"Vhy? Because, listen," and the little man approached closer and began +whispering. "I read about you in der papers. Iss it nod so?" and he +smiled broadly. "You are der richest young man vot efer vos. Ach, I +know!" and he winked one eye at Dick, as though the millionaire's son +had tried to conceal something. + +"So, now I proceed. I hear of your great wealth. I learn you vos a young +mans. You are bright, quick, smart. Yes, iss it not? Vell, I invent der +airships. I am a shoemaker in my city, many miles from here. Vun day der +great ideas comes to me. I see a bat fly. Quick, I say, I will make me a +airships like der bat. He is heavier as a bird, yet he flies. So I stop +making shoes und I make airships. Iss it not so?" and once more the +smile illuminated the kindly face. + +"Did you succeed?" asked Dick. + +"Not at first," replied the German, gravely. "Many, many times I t'ink I +fly into der air, but I falls to der ground. Sometimes it hurts. Vunce I +breaks my leg. But dot iss noddings. Ven I get vell I make improvements. +Now I haf der great machine vot flies; yes?" + +"Where is it?" asked Dick, becoming interested in the queer little man. + +Then Herr Doodlebrod proceeded to explain. He said he had heard of +Dick's wealth, and, needing money to make some improvements in his +ship, he had taken it apart, shipped it to Hamilton Corners, and +followed the machine. The airship was now at the freight station, he +added, and he was about to put it together and give a demonstration. + +"What for?" asked Dick. + +"To show you how he vorks. Den you vill believe. You vill invest some +money in it, I shall make der improvements, get a better motor, und ve +win der government prize of ten thousand dollars." + +"Government prize?" repeated Dick. + +The German explained at greater length. The United States Government, in +common with other nations, recognizing the future in flying machines for +war purposes, had established a sort of competitive test, with a +substantial prize for the machine which successfully fulfilled the +conditions. The chief ones were that the apparatus must move through the +air at a certain distance above the ground, must carry two passengers, +must be under perfect control, and must stay up a certain length of +time. The German said his machine answered nearly all these +requirements, but that he needed some new materials in it, and, more +than anything else, a new motor. He had used up all his savings and had +tried in vain to get someone to help him. So, hearing of Dick, he had +decided to appeal to the millionaire's son. + +"It iss not so much dot I need," he went on. "If I had five hundred +dollars it would be enough. My dear young frient, I appeal to you. I do +not ask you for dot moneys. I say just invest it in my machine und ve +vill be successful und get der ten thousand dollars. You shall haf five +thousand. Iss not dot a good investment?" + +A sudden idea came to Dick. An investment, promising quick returns was +just what he needed. He had tried in vain to find one, and the time was +daily growing shorter. Here might be the very chance he desired. But +there was one important thing. He must be sure that the airship would +fly. If it did not the prize would not be won and he would be out five +hundred dollars. Herr Doodlebrod saw the doubt pictured on Dick's face. + +"I do not ask you to take my word," he said, gravely. "I only ask for a +chance to show you. See, I vill bring my machine here. I vill put him +togeder und I vill fly in him. Der trouble iss dot I cannot go far +enough or stay up long enough vid der motor dot I haf. Wid a new vun I +can. I need der money for der new motor. Vill you invest it?" + +"I will!" exclaimed Dick, suddenly. + +"Ach! Bless you, my young friend!" and Herr Doodlebrod rushed over to +the millionaire's son and threw his arms about Dick, an embrace somewhat +difficult to escape from, so hearty was it. + +"But I must first talk to my father," went on Dick, when Herr +Doodlebrod's enthusiasm had somewhat cooled down. "If the ship is a +success so far, and by investing five hundred dollars a better one can +be entered for the prize, so that I can win part of it, I'm sure he +would have no objections." + +"I go for my airship," said the German. "I bring him here und in two +days he is ready to fly." + +"Better not bring it here," advised Dick. "There isn't much room to try +it around the house, and too big a crowd would gather. We'll go off in +the country somewhere. My father owns some property about five miles +from here. It's a big level field, and I think that will be the best +place." + +"Der very t'ing," assented the German, and Dick told him how to get to +it. Herr Doodlebrod hurried off to the freight station to arrange for +having his dismantled flying machine brought to the place where the test +was to be made. + +"This may be the very thing I've been looking for," reasoned Dick. +"Winning five thousand dollars on an investment of five hundred is +pretty good. I guess that will fulfill the conditions of mother's will. +The question is: will it fly? But if it doesn't at the first test I'm +out nothing. And if it flies with his present engine it surely will with +a better one. I must tell dad about it." + +Mr. Hamilton was not much impressed with Herr Doodlebrod's plan. He +admitted that the government had offered a prize for a successful +airship, but he thought an old shoemaker was hardly a possible person to +win it. + +"Scientific men have devoted many years of study to the problem," he +said, "and they have not solved it yet. Still, of course, there's a +chance. As you say, you're out nothing if it doesn't work the first +time. But how about after you have put the five hundred dollars in, and +the ship doesn't sail?" + +"If it sails with the old engine it surely ought to with the new," +declared Dick, repeating his favorite argument. + +Mr. Hamilton consented that Dick might make the investment. It was a +queer one, he said, but he agreed that if Herr Doodlebrod won the prize, +and gave Dick half, the terms of Mrs. Hamilton's will would have been +complied with. + +"I'll get out of going to Uncle Ezra's yet," said the millionaire's son. +"The mine failed, the milk company failed, but the airship will beat +them all." + +Herr Doodlebrod was a quick worker. In less time than Dick had believed +possible he had the parts of the machine at the place decided on for the +test. There, under the inventor's directions, men aided him in putting +it together. + +In shape it looked like a huge bat, and was built on the principle of an +aeroplane. At the stern an immense rudder was turned by a small gasolene +motor, and there were several smaller rudders for directing the course +of the apparatus. There was a little car, of basket-work, amidships, +where the operator sat. + +It was three days before the German was satisfied that all was in +readiness for the preliminary test that was to tell if Dick would spend +five hundred dollars on improvements. In spite of the attempt to keep +the matter quiet the news leaked out, and a big crowd gathered to see +Herr Doodlebrod make an attempt to fly. + +"I do not promise so much to-day," he said, as he saw that all was in +readiness. "I vill go up, circle about for a vile, und den I haf to come +down. My engine iss not powerful enough. But vid der new one! Ach, den +ve vill fly far und vin der prize!" + +He climbed into the little basket-car. Giving a look over the various +handles and levers, and seeing that all was clear ahead, Herr Doodlebrod +started the motor. It began to revolve rapidly, crackling like a battery +of Gatling guns. + +"Now I fly!" exclaimed the German, as he threw on the clutch that +operated the propeller. The big airship trembled as the massive blades +whizzed through the air, and all eyes were fixed on it to detect the +moment when it might leave the earth and sail aloft. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A DISASTROUS FLIGHT + + +"There it goes!" cried a score of voices, Dick's among them. And, sure +enough, the airship moved. Slowly, but gathering speed, like some +ungainly creature, it rose into the air in a slanting direction. Up and +up it went, until it was about two hundred feet above the earth. Then +Herr Doodlebrod shifted a rudder and the machine flew along on a level +keel. + +"Look at her go!" cried Frank Bender, for he and all of Dick's boy chums +had been invited to the test. "Gee, but I wish I was in her!" + +"You'd stand on your head on one of the propeller blades, I suppose," +commented Walter Mead. + +"Look, he's turning around!" exclaimed Frank, to change the subject from +his acrobatic abilities, concerning which he was a bit sensitive. + +Sure enough, Herr Doodlebrod was flying around in a circle. He seemed to +be able to manage the ship perfectly, and Dick was delighted. He already +saw the prize won with the improved craft, and himself holder of half +the money. + +"Look out, he's falling!" yelled Bricktop, suddenly, and the crowd of +men, women, boys and girls strained their eyes to see what was +happening. The airship was certainly coming down. + +"Oh, he'll be killed! Isn't it terrible!" exclaimed Birdy Lee, who, with +some of her girl friends, had come to watch the test. + +"I'm going to faint!" declared Nettie Henderson, covering her eyes with +her hands. + +"No, he isn't falling; he's steering it down!" declared Dick. "He's all +right!" + +This announcement relieved the feelings of all. Herr Doodlebrod was +indeed coming down. But he had his ship under perfect control, as shown +by the manner in which he steered it in a half circle so as to return to +the place from which he had started. In a few minutes he allowed it to +come to a stop on the ground, in the midst of the throng, where it +alighted as gently as a bird. + +"Vot I tell you?" he asked of Dick, triumphantly. "I could haf stayed +longer, but my engine he vill not stand it. Ven ve gets der new +motor--den ve two vill sail in der clouds." + +"I guess you'll have to excuse me from the first trip," objected Dick, +with a smile. "I want to see it tried first." + +"It iss as safe as on der ground. Vait, I vill show you. But now, are +you satisfied?" + +"Yes," replied Dick. "I'm willing to invest five hundred dollars in a +new motor. Then we'll see how she works." + +"Und den ve vin der grand prize," announced the German. "But I haf much +to do. Ven can you spare der money?" + +"As soon as you want it. Perhaps you had better come back to town with +me and we can talk it over with my father." + +The airship was taken to a big barn near the scene of the test and some +workmen left in charge to guard it from the curious crowd that gathered. +Herr Doodlebrod was as calm and collected as though flying was an +every-day accomplishment of his, but Dick was quite excited over what +had taken place. Not only did he see the conditions of his mother's will +fulfilled, but he was glad of the opportunity of taking part in helping +to solve the problem of aerial navigation. + +Mr. Hamilton was informed of the test and its success. A form of +agreement was drawn up to protect the interests of all parties, and Dick +gave Herr Doodlebrod a check for five hundred dollars, taking a mortgage +on the machine as security, a proposition the inventor himself +suggested. + +"Now I go to New York for der engine," he announced. + +Three days later a letter arrived from the German. He said he was having +some difficulties in getting the engine made, but expected to be back at +Hamilton Corners in a week. + +"You'll have to hustle, Dick, to win that prize before the year +expires," said his father, with a smile. "Aren't you getting anxious?" + +"A little, but I guess it will all come out right. It won't take long to +install the engine once we get it." + +At the end of the week the German arrived with the engine. He was +enthusiastic over it, and declared the government prize was already his. +He had communicated with a representative of the War Department, who +promised to be on hand when the test was made, to see if Herr +Doodlebrod's machine answered the requirements. + +"But haf no fears," boasted the inventor to Dick. "It vill, und ve vill +reap der reward." + +"I hope so," answered Dick. "I haven't much time left." + +There were several delays in getting the ship in shape for the decisive +test. Herr Doodlebrod was not satisfied with one of the rudders and +ordered a new one made. Dick urged haste, as he had in mind the year +limit fixed in his mother's will. + +"Easy, easy," counseled the German. "I haf spent fifteen years on der +machine; vot iss a few days?" + +"Much, to me," said Dick. + +"Do not vorry, my young friend," comforted the inventor. "You shall haf +made der finest investment vot effer vos. I, Herr Doodlebrod, say so. +Dot uncle of yours shall nefer get you." For Dick had told the German +about the conditions of the will. + +But, in spite of all their haste, it was some time longer ere the +machine was ready for the test. The new motor had been put in, and, +though it was not tried in the air, worked perfectly. The propeller +revolved twice as fast, and this, the inventor said, meant twice as much +speed. + +"To-morrow ve haf der test," announced the German one evening, as he +completed the last change on the airship. + +"Will the government official be here?" asked Dick. + +"He has promised. I go to bed early dot my nerves may be in good shape. +Haf no fears, I vill fly, und fly far. Der requirements vill all be met; +I, Herr Doodlebrod, say so." + +True to his promise, the government expert on aerial matters arrived at +Hamilton Corners the next day. He sought out Herr Doodlebrod and Dick, +and said he was ready to see their machine tested. The preparations had +all been made and there was no delay. + +In Dick's runabout he, his father, the inventor and the representative +from the War Department, Colonel Claflin, went out to the big field +where the airship awaited them. A large crowd was waiting. It seemed +that everyone in Hamilton Corners, who could, by any possibility get +away from work, was there. + +The airship was hauled from the barn where it had been during the night, +closely guarded against possible accidents. It looked larger than ever +as, almost at the last minute, the inventor had increased the size of +some of the bat-like wings that extended on either side. + +Herr Doodlebrod was the calmest person in the big crowd. He went about +looking at the wheels, levers, rods, rudders and the propeller as if he +was merely a spectator. But his sharp eyes did not miss anything. He +detected a loose screw in the motor and called for a tool to adjust it. +Then, having seen that the gasolene tank was filled, and that the +various handles for controlling the machine worked smoothly, he took his +place in the basket-car, which had been enlarged. + +"Vould you not like to come?" he asked of Dick. But Dick shook his head +in dissent. + +"You come," the inventor invited Colonel Claflin, but the government +representative begged to be excused. + +"I may try it with you after your first flight," he said. + +As the specifications called for the carrying of two passengers the +absence of one was made up by some bags of sand to give the necessary +weight. + +"Iss all clear?" asked Herr Doodlebrod. + +"Clear she is," replied his chief helper. + +"Den here I goes!" exclaimed the inventor as he started the motor and +threw in the clutch operating the propeller. + +The big arms beat the air and hummed shrilly as they whizzed around. The +new motor made the frail airship tremble. There was a moment's +hesitation, as if the craft hated to leave the earth, and then, with a +little jerk, it soared aloft. + +"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd. + +"She works! She works!" cried Dick, capering about in delight. He +thought the prize already won. Even Colonel Claflin looked pleased. + +Herr Doodlebrod deflected one of the rudders and the airship went up at +a sharp angle. In a few seconds it was several hundred feet high. Then +it started to move about in a circle. + +"Wonderful!" murmured several. + +"He seems to know his business," remarked Mr. Hamilton. "I didn't +believe it would work. I haven't much faith in airships." + +"Well, it has gone, so far," replied Colonel Claflin. "But the test is +not completed. Let's watch him." + +In a great circle Herr Doodlebrod sent his ship around. He turned and +twisted this way and that. Then he set off in a straight line, as called +for by the government requirements. + +But suddenly something happened. There was a sharp sound, like an +explosion, up on the airship. The big propellor was seen to fly to +pieces and come fluttering down, a mass of twisted wire and cloth. + +Then came another ominous sound. It was a louder explosion, and a sheet +of fire was seen to envelop the ship. + +"His gasolene tank has gone up!" exclaimed Colonel Claflin. "He'll be +killed!" + +The airship seemed rent apart. The two big, bat-like wings soared off to +one side. Rudders, wheels, levers and parts of machinery came raining +down. The bat wings settled to the earth more slowly. + +"Where is the inventor?" asked Mr. Hamilton. "Has he been blown to +pieces?" + +"It looks so," replied the colonel. "Poor chap! I'm afraid he didn't +know so much about airships as he thought." + +There came a cry from the crowd, not a cry of horror, but of wonder. The +colonel, Dick and Mr. Hamilton looked toward where they pointed. + +There, falling through space from his wrecked airship, was Herr +Doodlebrod. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +GOOD NEWS--CONCLUSION + + +"Look! Look!" cried the crowd, again and again. + +And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was +falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings. It +acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface. +Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest +danger. It was a wonderful escape. + +No sooner had he alighted than he hurried up to where Dick stood, his +face showing the sorrow he felt. + +"Vell, my young friend," said Herr Doodlebrod, "ve haf made vun grand +mistake. But I know vat der trouble vas. I need a stronger propellor. Ve +vill make vun at vunce, und haf anodder test." + +"I'm afraid it will be too late for me," remarked Dick, ruefully. + +"Ach, dot iss so," assented the German. "But neffer mind. I shall yet +fly. I vill at once proceed to build a new machine. I vill make some +more shoes until I haf saved money enough, und den I try again," and he +smiled as though what had just happened was the thing he had always +desired. + +The crowd gathered about the disabled airship, which was mostly consumed +by the flames before it had reached the earth. Herr Doodlebrod had the +men save what they could, and, not a bit discouraged, he set about +packing up the remnants to take away. + +"Too bad," remarked Colonel Claflin, "but such accidents will happen. +He's a cool fellow, at any rate." + +Dick and his father went home together in the runabout, the colonel +declining their invitation to pay them a visit. The German inventor went +away and that was the last seen of him. + +Swiftly the days passed, and in sheer desperation Dick invested several +hundred dollars in three different schemes. But none of them paid. In +one he lost all his money and in the others he got his money back and +that was all. + +"It's no use!" he groaned to himself. "I guess it takes a brighter +fellow than I to make money." + +Mr. Hamilton did not say much, but he was almost as anxious as his son, +for he did not wish to see Dick fail. + +One morning Mr. Hamilton went out with Dick in the youth's runabout. + +"Well, my son, to-morrow is your birthday," remarked the parent, after +speaking of many things in general. + +"I know it, dad," was the gloomy answer. And then Dick went on: "I +suppose there is no way of getting clear of the provisions of that +will?" + +"I know of none. Your dear departed mother's wishes must be respected." + +"Oh, dear!" Dick gave a long sigh. "Well, perhaps I can stand Uncle +Ezra, but it's going to be a--er--a stiff proposition." + +"I'm sorry," commented Mr. Hamilton. "But perhaps it will be a good +thing for you. Your Uncle Ezra has excellent discipline, and he's a good +man of business." + +"I don't doubt that, dad." + +Father and son did not say much during the ride home, as each was busy +with his thoughts. As Dick went up the steps of the Hamilton mansion the +butler met him at the door. + +"Your Uncle Ezra is here," he announced. + +"Oh, dear!" commented Dick, with a groan. + +"Ah, Nephew Richard," was Mr. Larabee's greeting when Dick found him in +the library. "I've come to pay _you_ a little visit, you see. I happened +to remember that to-morrow is your birthday, and, according to the--to +the provisions of your mother's will you may be going to pay _me_ a +visit. I can't say I altogether approve of that will, still we will not +discuss that now. The main thing is, Have you made the paying investment +called for?" + +"No, I haven't, Uncle Ezra." + +"Hum, well, I didn't think you would. Boys have no head for business +nowadays. I knew your money would do you little good. So you are to come +and live a year with me, eh?" + +"I suppose so. Yes, of course, Uncle Ezra," and Dick tried to make his +voice sound cheerful, but it was hard work when he thought of the gloomy +house. + +"Well, I told Samanthy I'd bring you back with me, and she's going to +have your room all ready. Then, too, I've arranged to send you to a good +boarding school. It is taught by a friend of mine; a man who doesn't +believe in nonsense." + +Dick could see, in fancy, the kind of a school Uncle Ezra would pick +out, and he could also fancy the principal of it, a harsh, stern old +man. He sighed, but there was no help for it. + +"So I will take you away with me to-morrow," went on Mr. Larabee, +rubbing his hands as if delighted at the prospect. "I shall--Gracious +goodness! What's that?" he exclaimed, jumping from his chair, as a loud +growl sounded from under the library table. "Have you a wild animal in +here, Nephew Richard?" + +"I guess it's my bulldog, Grit," replied Dick. "Here, Gibbs," calling +the butler, "have Grit taken to the stable." + +Grit was led away, growling out a protest. + +"I can't bear dogs," said Uncle Ezra. "You'll not be allowed to have +one at The Firs, so you had better get rid of this one." + +"Oh, I suppose I can leave Grit home," answered Dick, with a sigh. "Can +I get you something to eat, Uncle Ezra?" he asked, trying to be +hospitable. + +"No, thank you, Nephew Richard. I never eat between meals, nor do I +allow it at my house. Three times a day is enough to eat." + +"Maybe you would like some lemonade; it's quite warm to-day." Dick was +both hungry and thirsty. + +"No, lemonade is bad for the liver, I have heard. You may get me some +plain water, if you please." + +"And I've got to live a year with him," mused Dick as he went out to get +his uncle a drink. "Why, oh why, didn't some of my investments succeed?" + +Dick spent a miserable evening with his uncle. Mr. Hamilton came home +from the bank, whither he had gone after the ride, and greeted his +brother-in-law. + +"Well, I guess you'll have to take Dick back with you," said the +millionaire, with an attempt at cheerfulness. + +"I intend to, and when he comes back from living with me he'll be a +different lad," said Mr. Larabee, grimly. + +"I guess that's true enough," thought Dick. + +He dreamed that night that he went to his uncle's house in an airship, +and when they got there it turned into a vault in a cemetery and he was +made a prisoner in it. He awoke with a start to find his uncle calling +to him from the hall outside his door. + +"Come, Nephew Richard," said Mr. Larabee. "It's six o'clock, and you'll +have to get up early when you're at my house. Might as well begin now." + +"Oh, this is a beautiful birthday," said Dick, with a groan, as he began +to dress. "Six o'clock! Ugh!" + +It was arranged that they were to take an early train to Dankville, and, +soon after breakfast, Dick, having packed his suitcase, and arranged to +have his trunk forwarded to him at The Firs, went to the library where +his father and uncle were waiting for him. + +"Well, Dick," remarked Mr. Hamilton, with a little catch in his voice, +for he hated to part with his son, though he knew the experience might +be good for him. "I guess it's time to say good-bye." + +"I suppose so," replied Dick, trying to keep back the tears, which, in +spite of all he could do, would come to his eyes. + +"Yes, we must be going," agreed Mr. Larabee. "I'll write to you, +Mortimer, and let you know how Dick gets along. I have no doubt but I'll +make a fine man of him. Too much wealth is bad for a young man. Come +along, Nephew Richard." + +Dick started to leave the room. At that instant the doorbell rang and +Gibbs, answering it, came into the library and announced: + +"Mr. Henry Darby and his son, to see Mr. Dick." + +"I guess they have come to say good-bye," said the millionaire's son. +"Show them in, Gibbs." + +"Hank" Darby did not need any "showing." He was in the library as Gibbs +turned to go back to the door. + +"Excuse this intrusion," he began, "but I am in a hurry. I have a very +important scheme on and I must attend to it at once. But my son insisted +that we come and tell Mr. Dick what has happened, he being a partner in +our enterprise--The International and Consolidated Old Metal +Corporation." + +"Yes, Dick!" cried Henry, unable to wait for his father to tell the news +in his slow, pompous way. "Things are in fine shape. In fact the old +metal business can now pay a dividend." + +"A dividend?" + +"Yes, you remember me telling you about a lot of old scrap-iron and +steel dad bought, thinking it had platinum in it?" + +"Yes, and it didn't have any in." + +"Merely an error in judgment," murmured Mr. Darby. "Any business man, +with large schemes on hand, is liable to make them." + +"Well, while the metal didn't have any platinum in it, it had a peculiar +quality of steel. It is very valuable, and I--that is we"--turning +toward his father--"have just sold it to a large firm that wants it to +make some very fine springs with." + +"Yes, the deal is just completed," broke in Mr. Darby. "My judgment in +that old metal is confirmed. I have accepted an offer of two thousand +dollars for it. Under the terms of the incorporation papers one-half of +that goes to Dick. I now take pleasure in handing you my check for that +amount, as president of The International and Consolidated Old Metal +Corporation," and with a grand air "Hank" handed Dick a slip of paper. + +"Is this mine?" asked the millionaire's son, in some bewilderment. + +"It is," replied Mr. Darby. "It is part of the return from your +investment of two hundred and fifty dollars which you put into the firm +of which I am president, you treasurer, and my son secretary and general +manager." + +"That is, I collect the old iron and sell it," explained Henry, seeing +that Mr. Larabee looked puzzled. "Dick was kind enough to invest some +money with our company last year, and I am glad I can make a return for +him--or, rather, dad can, for he bought the metal that turned out so +valuable." + +"Then--then--" began Dick, a light slowly breaking over him, "without +intending it, I have made a good, paying investment. A thousand dollars +for two hundred and fifty is good, isn't it, dad?" + +"Fine, I would say," cried Mr. Hamilton, with a smile. + +"And this is my birthday! The year is just up!" went on Dick. "I--I +won't have to go and live with Uncle----" + +He stopped in some confusion. + +"Do you mean to tell me that this is a bona-fide investment, Mortimer?" +asked Mr. Larabee, turning to his brother-in-law. + +"Perfectly legal and legitimate," interrupted Mr. Darby. "Here is a copy +of the incorporation agreement." + +"Well," remarked Uncle Ezra, with a disappointed air, "I suppose you +have fulfilled the conditions of your mother's will, Nephew Richard. I +congratulate you," and he shook hands rather stiffly. + +"Well, who would have thought it?" gasped Dick, hardly able to believe +his good fortune. "I never gave that investment a thought--in fact, I +never considered it an investment, Henry." + +"It was, all the same, and I'm glad I am able to do you a favor, for you +did me a mighty good turn. The old metal business is in fine shape, and +I have more than I can attend to." + +"Yes, we must be going, I have a big scheme on hand," put in Mr. Darby. +"A very big scheme, there are enormous possibilities in it. _Enormous_, +sir!" + +"If they only come out," said Henry, with a laugh, as he and his father +withdrew. + +"Well, if you are not to come back with me, I suppose I may as well be +going," remarked Uncle Ezra, after a pause. "Samanthy will be looking +for me. I'll say good-bye." + +He turned to go, and at that instant an ominous growl came from under +the library table. + +"What's that?" asked Mr. Larabee in alarm. + +"I--I think it's Grit," replied Dick, trying not to laugh. + +"That bulldog again!" exclaimed Mr. Larabee. "I hate dogs! I wish----" + +But what he wished he never said, for Grit, seeming to know that an +enemy of his master was present, rushed from under the table, and, with +opened mouth, though he probably would not have bitten him, rushed at +Uncle Ezra. + +"Here, Grit!" cried Dick. "Come back here this instant!" + +But, with a wild yell, Mr. Larabee ran from the room, followed by the +dog. Out through the hall and down the steps Dick's uncle ran, the dog +growling behind him. But Gibbs captured Grit at the front door and held +him. + +"Grit! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" asked Dick, trying not to laugh. +But Grit growled in a way that seemed to say he was not in the least +ashamed. + +Mr. Larabee hurried off down the street, not once looking back. + +"Well, that was a narrow escape," murmured Dick. "Eh, dad?" + +"I suppose so. Still a visit to your uncle's house might have done you +good," added the millionaire, with a twinkle in his eyes. + +"Now, dad," went on Dick, "I suppose that as I have fulfilled all the +conditions of the will I may do pretty nearly as I please." + +"Not altogether," and the millionaire spoke rather gravely. "It is true +you will have a certain control of your money left you by your mother, +but you remember I told you, a year ago, there were certain other +provisions of the will. One of them is that you attend a good military +school." + +"A military school!" exclaimed Dick, his eyes sparkling. "That will be +fine." + +"Yes, but wait. The conditions are that you attend there and become +popular with the students in spite of your wealth. In short, that you +make your own way up without the aid of your millions, and become one of +the upper classmen through your own efforts. It is not going to be as +easy as you think, but I trust you can do it. There is no great hurry +about it. I will give you a few months of leisure and then you must get +ready for a new life." + +"Oh, dad, I think it will be fine!" exclaimed Dick; "I've always wanted +to go to a military academy!" But he little knew of what was in store +for him. Those who wish to follow the further adventures of the young +millionaire will find them set forth in the second volume of this +series, entitled "Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days; or the Handicap of a +Millionaire's Son." + +"Well, Grit, you certainly routed Uncle Ezra," said Dick, as he patted +the ugly head of his pet. "I don't know as I blame you. But it's all +over now, though I had some stirring times while it lasted." And, +whistling gaily, Dick went out to deposit in the bank his +thousand-dollar check, the profits of his one paying investment. + +THE END + + + + +THE DICK HAMILTON SERIES + +BY HOWARD R. GARIS + +A NEW LINE OF CLEVER TALES FOR BOYS + + + DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE + Or The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son + +Dick, the son of a millionaire, has a fortune left to him by his mother. +But before he can touch the bulk of this money it is stipulated in his +mother's will that he must do certain things, in order to prove that he +is worthy of possessing such a fortune. The doings of Dick and his chums +make the liveliest kind of reading. + + DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS + Or The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son + +The hero, a very rich young man, is sent to a military academy to make +his way without the use of money. A fine picture of life at an +up-to-date military academy is given, with target shooting, broad-sword +exercise, trick riding, sham battles, and all. Dick proves himself a +hero in the best sense of the word. + + DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT + Or A Young Millionaire and the Kidnappers + +A series of adventures while yachting in which our hero's wealth plays a +part. Dick is marooned on an island, recovers his yacht and foils the +kidnappers. The wrong young man is spirited away, Dick gives chase and +there is a surprising rescue at sea. + + DICK HAMILTON'S AIRSHIP + Or A Young Millionaire in the Clouds + +This new book is just brimming over with hair-raising adventures of Dick +Hamilton in his new airship. + + DICK HAMILTON'S TOURING CAR + Or A Young Millionaire's Race for Fortune + +A series of thrilling adventures. Dick and his friends see the country +in a huge touring car. Their exciting trip across the country, how they +saved a young man's fortune and other exciting incidents are very +cleverly told. + + Price 50 cents each + + The Goldsmith Publishing Co. 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