The Globe-republican., 1891-04-08
to take s,s family to New Orleans for

his praise of the craft and evident de-
sire to possess her, answered that as
boats seemed to be in pretty good de-
mand, he thought this one ought to be
worth twenty dollars.
'Nonsense- exclaimed the stranger.
''Twenty dollars! Why. she is worth
fifty, if she is worth cent, and
couldn't thiak Of offering any less for
her Say fifty and we'll call it bar
gain
Was there ever such a generous and
! honest man? Both Arthur and Uncle
Phin thought there never was, as they
gladly accepted this magnificent offer,
and thanked him for it besides.
Now" said the stranger. business
is business, and l should like to take
! possession of the boat at once; while
presume you are anxious to pursue your
| journey. If you will just step uptown
with me to my bank, l will pay you the
| fifty dollars. and on the way will show
you the station of the railroad that goes
to Virginia. Then we'll get team to
come down here for your baggage, and
you'll be all right
Neither Arthur nor the old negro
could think of any particular baggage
that they wished to carry with them,
unless it was their bedding and Uncle
Phin's axe. and they told the stranger
SO. He said they might think of some
thing else after they had got their
money, and that at any rate they had
better go uptown with him and secure
it at once.
Arthur suggested that it might not be
safe to leave the boat all alone, and pro-
posed that Uncle Phin go for the money,
while he and Rusty stayed behind to
guard it.
''Oh, that's all right" said the
stranger. ''You never knew such hon
est folks as live around here. They
wouldn't touch any thing that didn't
belong to them for the world. Besides
want you both to sign the bill Of sale
and the receipt for the money"
So, after carefully closing the cabin
doors and windows. the trusting old
man and the boy, ignorant as yet of the
worlds wickedness, accompanied the
plausible stranger uptown. Arthur led
Rusty by a bit of rope fastened to the
leathern collar Uncle Phin had made for
him, and had some difficulty in keeping
him at q safe distance from the stranger,
toward whom the dog seemed to have
taken the greatest dislike. Moved by
some impulse that he could not have eX
planned. the boy had also taken his pre-
cious book from its shelf at the last
moment, and now carried it under his
arm.
The stranger continued to be very
polite and entertaining, as they walked
through the crowded streets, and point
ed out several places of interest; among
others, the railway station from which
they were to take the train for Vir-
ginia.
They walked so far that Arthur be-
gan to grow tired, and was very glad
when they at length entered fine
building, above the doorway of which
he read the word Bank in large let
tiers. Here both the old man and the
boy were awed and bewildered by the
imposing appearance of the interior,
into which they were ushered. They
wondered at the number of desks, at
which busy clerks sat writing be-
hind high and strong iron grating.
and at the crowds of people who
stood in long lines before the little
windows in it, or passed hurriedly to
and fro. Leading them to a retired corr
ner out of the throng, their guide bade
them wait there for few minutes
while he prepared the papers that it
would be necessary for them to sign
and procured the fifty dollars. Then he
mingled with the crowd of men about
them and disappeared.
For fifteen minutes or SO the attention
of the old man and the boy was fully
occupied by the novel scenes about
them and in keeping Rusty quiet.
Then they began to watch anXiously
for the strangers return and to grow
somewhat uneasy over his non-appear-
ance. When half an hour had passed
they were thoroughly alarmed, and be-
gan to walk up and down the crowded
space in front of the iron grating, peer
ing wistfully into the faces OF those who
filled it. but without seeing him whom
they sought.
At last a man who had been closely
watching their movements for some
time stepped briskly up to them, and.
laying a hand on Uncle Phin's shoulder.
said:
''Come. get out of here, old man. I've
had my eye on you since you came in,
and it's evident that you have no busi-
ness here"
But, boss. we'se a loolsin' fer ="
Eyes, l know you are looking for
something you won't find here, SO clear
out, or else I'll have to put you out"
There was no use offering further
resistance to the detective. and so, the
next minute, our two friends found
themselves in the street, utterly bewild
cred. and not knowing which way TO
turn.
What do you suppose it all means.
Uncle Phin?' asked Arthur.
''Don' know, honey. Hit beats de ole
mans 'sperience an he don kear to
know any fing about hit
There is something wrong, any way"
said the boy decidedly, ''and 1 think the
best thing we can do is to get back to
the boat just as quick as possible"