Part 39 (2/2)
”Yes, mother, I can a.s.sure you of that.”
In due time Harry boarded the morning train. He looked through the cars till he found Mr. Pry, the detective, and took a seat beside him.
It was not long before his attention was called to a smooth, plausible voice, proceeding from a person who sat two seats in advance of the one he occupied.
”My dear sir, if it will be any accommodation to you, I will myself buy your bond, and pay you the market price.”
There was something in the voice, and in the words, that attracted Harry's attention and excited his suspicions.
”Excuse me a moment,” he said to the detective, and, pa.s.sing through the aisle, reached a point where he could look back at the speaker.
He knew him at once, not only by his face, but by the profusion of rings upon his fingers. It was the same man that had cheated the poor farmer by giving him counterfeit money in payment for his coupons.
If, however, he had any doubt, it was set at rest by what followed.
”I don't know,” said his seat companion, an industrious mechanic; ”perhaps I'd better wait, and sell it in the city.”
”As you please, my friend,” said the young man. ”I only made the proposal thinking I might accommodate you.”
”Is that your business--buying bonds?” asked the mechanic.
”In the city, yes. I am a member of the well-known firm of Chase & Atkins. Of course, you have heard of them.”
”Ye-es,” answered the mechanic, doubtfully.
”I am Mr. Chase. We do a general banking and brokerage business. Let me see, what is the denomination of your bond?”
”Eh?”
”I mean, of what size? Is it a fifty, or a hundred?”
”It's only a fifty, sir. It was a present to my wife. Now she wants to use a little money, and so she has got me to sell it.”
”We give rather higher prices than most brokers,” said Chase, smoothly.
”How can you do that?” asked the mechanic, who was a man of good common sense.
”Well, you see, we s.h.i.+p 'em to Europe, and make a handsome profit. It would be for your advantage to sell to me; but you must act your own will.”
The mechanic began to think more favorably of the proposal, and asked one or two more questions. Finally he said:
”Well, I don't know but I might as well. Have you got money enough with you?”
Chase took out a plethoric pocketbook, stuffed with bills, and called attention to it, smilingly:
”We bankers always have to be well provided with money.”
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