Part 11 (2/2)
”I'm honest,” said d.i.c.k.
”I've no doubt of it,” said the other. ”Well, young man, I'll make you an offer. You take the pocket-book--”
”All right. Hand it over, then.”
”Wait a minute. There must be a large sum inside. I shouldn't wonder if there might be a thousand dollars. The owner will probably give you a hundred dollars reward.”
”Why don't you stay and get it?” asked Frank.
”I would, only there is sickness in my family, and I must get home as soon as possible. Just give me twenty dollars, and I'll hand you the pocket-book, and let you make whatever you can out of it. Come, that's a good offer. What do you say?”
d.i.c.k was well dressed, so that the other did not regard it as at all improbable that he might possess that sum. He was prepared, however, to let him have it for less, if necessary.
”Twenty dollars is a good deal of money,” said d.i.c.k, appearing to hesitate.
”You'll get it back, and a good deal more,” said the stranger, persuasively.
”I don't know but I shall. What would you do, Frank?”
”I don't know but I would,” said Frank, ”if you've got the money.”
He was not a little surprised to think that d.i.c.k had so much by him.
”I don't know but I will,” said d.i.c.k, after some irresolution. ”I guess I won't lose much.”
”You can't lose anything,” said the stranger briskly. ”Only be quick, for I must be on my way to the cars. I am afraid I shall miss them now.”
d.i.c.k pulled out a bill from his pocket, and handed it to the stranger, receiving the pocket-book in return. At that moment a policeman turned the corner, and the stranger, hurriedly thrusting the bill into his pocket, without looking at it, made off with rapid steps.
”What is there in the pocket-book, d.i.c.k?” asked Frank in some excitement. ”I hope there's enough to pay you for the money you gave him.”
d.i.c.k laughed.
”I'll risk that,” said he.
”But you gave him twenty dollars. That's a good deal of money.”
”If I had given him as much as that, I should deserve to be cheated out of it.”
”But you did,--didn't you?”
”He thought so.”
”What was it, then?”
”It was nothing but a dry-goods circular got up to imitate a bank-bill.”
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