gs were still at the hotel did not tend to
add to his good humor.

"I can't go for those things, or send for them," he reasoned. "Confound
that boy! Who would ever have dreamed that he would make such trouble
for me? I took him for a regular country greeny. But he's as sharp as a
razor!"

For a long time matters had been going illy with Nicholas Smithers,
alias Hamilton Dart, alias half a dozen other names. He had tried to
work one of his swindling schemes in Springfield, but nobody had taken
his bait, and his ready funds were consequently running low. When he had
money he lived extravagantly, so that his ill-gotten gains never lasted
him any great length of time.

"Something must be done, and that pretty soon," he reasoned. "Wonder
where I had best go next?"

Before going to Springfield he had had in mind to try Albany, and now he
resolved to go to the latter-named city by the first train. This train
was the very one upon which Nat was riding, but the swindler did not
immediately discover this.

Some miles out of Springfield the train stopped at a small station. The
only person in waiting was a young lady handsomely dressed, who did not
appear to have any baggage. She got in, and as chance would have it,
took a seat close to the swindler.

Nick Smithers had always interested himself in those around him, and he
looked the young lady over carefully. She was certainly beautiful, and
she appeared to be rich.

"Traveling all alone, eh?" mused the swindler. "And no doubt she has
money. Wonder if I could get anything out of her?"

He watched his chance, and when she happened to drop her handkerchief,
he promptly picked it up.

"Charming day," said he, with a smile.

"It is indeed beautiful," said the young lady, turning her dark,
brilliant eyes full upon the rascal.

"Do you enjoy riding in the cars?" he went on, with another smile.

"I? Well--I--I--What will you say to me when I tell you that now, for
the first time, I find myself in the cars?"

"For the first time?" repeated Nick Smithers, in astonishment.

"It is even so," said the young lady. "I do not wonder that you are
surprised. I--I presume there are few cases like mine." And she heaved a
long sigh.

"Here is certainly a mystery!" thought the confidence man. "Can she have
lived all her life in the backwoods, or what? I must investigate this."

"You are surprised?" she said, softly.

"I must confess that I am, madam. Perhaps you have a dislike to