d he was especially
attracted by the sweet face of the little girl. He wished he had been
fortunate enough to possess such a sister.
At last, however, they finished their sightseeing, and prepared to
descend. Herbert's companion waited till the sound of their descending
steps died away, and then, turning to Herbert, said in a quick, stern
tone: "Now give me the money you have in your pocket."
"What do you mean?" he said.
Herbert recoiled, and stared at the speaker in undisguised astonishment.
"I mean just what I say," returned the other. "You have one hundred and
fifty dollars in your pocket. You need not deny it, for I saw you draw
it from the bank and put it away."
"Are you a thief, then?" demanded Herbert.
"No matter what I am, I must have that money," said the stranger. "I
came over with you exclusively to get it, and I mean business."
He made a step towards Herbert, but the boy faced him unflinchingly, and
answered resolutely: "I mean business, too. The money is not mine, and I
shall not give it up."
"Take care!" said the other, menacingly, "we are alone here. You are a
boy and I am a man."
"I know that; but you will have to fight to get the money," said
Herbert, without quailing.
He looked to the staircase, but his treacherous guide stood between him
and it, and he was practically a prisoner at the top of the monument.
"Don't be a fool!" said the stranger. "You may as well give up the money
to me first as last."
"I don't propose to give it up to you at all," said Herbert. "My
employer trusted me with it, and I mean to be true to my trust."
"You can tell him that it was taken from you--that you could not help
yourself. Now hand it over!"
"Never!" exclaimed Herbert, resolutely.
"We'll see about that," said his companion, seizing the boy and
grappling with him.
Herbert was a strong boy for his age, and he accepted the challenge.
Though his antagonist was a man, he found that the boy was powerful, and
not to be mastered as easily as he anticipated.
"Confound you!" he muttered, "I wish I had a knife!"
Though Herbert made a vigorous resistance, his opponent was his superior
in strength, and would ultimately have got the better of him. He had
thrown Herbert down, and was trying to thrust his hand into his coat
pocket, when a step was heard, and a tall man of Western appearance
stepped on the scene.
"Hello!" he said, surveying the two combatants in surprise. "What's all
this? Le
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