and I gave it to him."

Soon Dick came up, with Hans riding behind him. The German boy looked
at the captured horse with awe.

"Did he bite you?" he questioned.

"No."

"Didn't he hurt you at all?"

"Nary a hurt, Hansy."

"Vonderful!"

"Do you want him back?"

"Not for a dousand tollars, Tom. Of I got to ride him, I valk,"
continued Hans decidedly.

"Then, supposing you try my horse. He is gentle enough."

"Ton't you been afraid of dot beast?"

"No."

"All right, den, I dook your horse. But of you got killed, it ton't
vos mine funeral," added Hans warningly.

The animal Tom had been riding was close by, and soon the German
youth was in the saddle and the journey was resumed. They could not
go fast, however, for Tom's horse was all but exhausted.

"I think he has learned his lesson," said Tom to his brothers. And
so it proved, for after that single "kick-up," the horse gave them
no further trouble.

About four o'clock that afternoon, they rode into a place called
Harpertown, which was something of a horse-trading center. Some of
the horse dealers thought they had come in to do some trading, but
lost interest when the boys told them that they were simply on a
journey to the Denton plantation.

"We may as well stop here for a while," said Sam. "Perhaps we can
get a good supper at the hotel."

"Thought we were going to camp out," remarked Fred. "Build our own
camp fire, and all that?"

"We can try that to-morrow, when we are among the hills," said Dick,
and by a vote it was decided to stay in Harpertown for supper.

They put up their horses at the livery stable attached to the hotel,
and then went to the lavatory to wash up. On coming out and going to
the general room of the hostelry, Dick ran into a man who looked
familiar to him.

"Why, how do you do, Mr. Monday?" he cried, and put out his hand.

The man looked startled at being addressed so unexpectedly. Then he
recognized Dick, and smiled faintly.

"How do you do, Dick Rover?" he said. "I didn't expect to run across
you down here."

"Are you at work here, Mr. Monday?"

"Hush! Please do not mention my name," said James Monday hastily. He
was a detective who had once done some work for Dick's father, after
which he had given up his private practice to take a position with
the United States Government.

"All right, just as you please." Dick lowered his voice. "I suppose
you are on a case down here?"

James Monday nodded.

"Can I help