"That way," and the colored boy pointed with his hand.

"I thought maybe Bob was sick."

"He ain't sick--he's only pertendin'," answered the colored boy.

Randy said no more but hurried off in the direction of the baseball
grounds. Just as he came in sight of the place, he saw a figure ahead
that looked familiar to him.

"Unless I am mistaken, that is Bob," he told himself, and hurried
closer.

It was indeed Bob Bangs, walking along as if nothing had ever happened
to him. He was smoking a cigarette. He passed into the grounds and
Randy did the same, and took a seat on a bench directly behind the rich
youth.

It was easy to see that Bob Bangs was not suffering physically. He
smoked half a dozen cigarettes, and applauded as loudly as anybody when
a good play was made.

"Fine game," said a man sitting next to Randy.

"It is," said our hero. He looked at the man and saw that he was
evidently a merchant. "Excuse me, are you from Catskill?"

"I am."

"Do you want to do me a favor if I pay you for it?"

"Well, it won't be a favor if you pay me."

"I may want your assistance and I may not. Do you see that boy there?"

"Yes."

"He doesn't look as if he was sick abed, does he?"

"Sick abed? What sort of a game is this?" and the merchant looked Randy
over with much curiosity.

"That boy's father says he is sick in bed. I want to prove that it
isn't so."

"What is the game, anyway?"

"He had an accident on the river and he wants damages from a man I work
for. It is a put-up job."

"Oh! I've heard of such things before. I know a rascal who cut his foot
with an ax and then went down to the railroad and laid the blame on a
train. He got five hundred dollars, but, later on, was found out and
sent to prison for the deception."

"Well, this isn't exactly like that. Didn't you hear about a sloop
running into the _Helen Shalley_ a few days ago?"

"Oh, yes, a friend of mine, a passenger on the boat, told me about it.
He said the boy didn't know how to handle the craft."

"Well, that is the boy."

"Indeed!"

"Does he act as if he was hurt or suffering?"

"Not in the least."

"Would you be willing to testify to that fact, if it came to law?"

"Certainly."

"Will you give me your name and address?"

"Here is my card," and the merchant handed it over. He did not add that
he occasionally sold Captain Hadley some goods and was glad to do the
master of the steamboat a service.

The game was almost at a