Part 18 (2/2)
The ement in Baltimore immediately upon the arrival of this train which I would not miss for a dozen such pocket-books”
”Then you'll have to take thethat,” returned the man with a bland smile ”I would feel like a thief I'll tell you what I will do,” he went on smoothly and earnestly ”Give me twenty dollars, and you take the pocket-book Perhaps you won't be able to find an owner, and then the money will all be yours, and if you do find an owner, he will certainly offer more of a reward than twenty dollars”
”I take the pocket-book?” said Matt, considerably surprised by the offer
”Yes; I really can't wait, and I do not feel satisfied to take thatI do not find the owner, do you not want part of the money?”
”No; you can keep it all”
This certainly seemed a very liberal offer, and had Matt had less experience of the world at large, he ht have accepted on the spot
But the apparent open-heartedness of the stranger only served to make him more cautious
”Let us count the money and see how much there is in the pocket-book,”
he re what else to say
”No, I haven't tier hastily ”As it is, I have now barely ten et to the depot If you want to accept ive me the twenty dollars, and I'll run for the depot”
And the reatest hurry of his life
”I haven't twenty dollars with ht you looked like a well-to-do young man----”
”I have twelve dollars----”
”Well--let that do, but be quick!”
And the stranger held out his hand for the amount
”Never mind,” remarked Matt, struck with an idea which he resolved to carry out if he went into the scheme at all ”I'll take the money from the pocket-book, and if I find the owner I will tell him how I came to do it”
”No; don't you touch the contents of the pocket-book!” exclai the article in question froht!”
”Yes, but I will ht with the owner, if I----”
”I can't wait any longer for that train!” cried the stranger, and without another word he placed the pocket-book into his coat-pocket and disappeared into the crowd
For the instant Matt stared after hiht burst upon the boy'sto swindle me!” he murmured to hile dollar bill on a pile of green paper! How lucky I was not to jump at his offer when he first made it!”
As soon as he had reached this conclusion, Matt made after the man