Part 4 (2/2)
[Illustration: THE PURSUIT OF A FAMILIAR FACE Y A]
CHAPTER V
MATT IS DISCHARGED
When Matt Lincoln reached the pavement he saw that thedoard Water street The boy started on a run and caught up to the individual just as he was about to descend into an insurance office which was located several steps below the level of the street
”Hold on there!” cried Matt, and he caught the man by the arht start at being accosted so unexpectedly
”I want to see you about that piece of bric-a-brac you broke at the auction store up on Nausau street”
The man's face reddened, and he looked confused
”I don't--don't knohat you are talking about,” he stammered
”Oh, yes, you do,” returned Matt coolly ”You tried to let the blao back, explainof the kind!” blustered the red mustachedof the affair you have in mind I have not been near an auction store to-day--for a month, in fact”
”That's a whopper!” exploded Matt ”You were in the place less than an hour and a half ago!”
”Nonsense, boy, you have got hold of the wrong o”
”Not much I won't! You are the o I'll call a policeman just as sure as my name is Paul Carden”
”I don't care what your naht”
The , he pushed the boy backward Matt was standing upon the edge of the steps leading to the insurance office at the ti door, knocking a large hole into it
Before Matt could recover the man darted down Wall street and around the nearest corner Matt would have gone after him, but the proprietor of the insurance office ca the wire-netting door in such a rude fashi+on
”A man knocked me down the steps,” Matt explained ”I hope the door isn't ruined”
”Hardly, but there's a hole in it”
”The wire has broken fro, that is all,” said the boy ”Let ht out his penknife, and loosened part of thethe wire back into place, he tacked the ood as before
But all this had taken time, and Matt kneould now be useless to attempt to follow Paul Carden He looked around the corner, and seeing nothing of the fellow, retraced his steps to Randolph Fenton's establish?” demanded Mr Fenton, as Matt entered the private apart an hour for you to deliver a e to Ulmer & Grant I hire you to be on hand anted, Lincoln; not to loaf your time away”