ack came his gaze to the same
brown-ulstered traveler.

Then the bus lurched, stopped suddenly, and he knew! The man had lowered
his paper, and as he turned his head to look out, the boy saw on his
right cheek, almost concealed by hat and whiskers, a telltale scar.

The shock of the discovery was so great that it was with difficulty
Chris checked a cry of surprise. Yes, it was the hero of the ring
adventure--there could be no possible doubt of it. And yet, after all,
was it? This person's hair was white and his whiskers too; he was shabby
and wore spectacles. The lad began to doubt the conclusion to which he
had leaped.

It couldn't be Stuart! A diamond robber would not be journeying about in
an electric bus in broad daylight. Such a notion was absurd. Probably it
was merely a mannerism that had suggested him.

Nevertheless Christopher continued to regard him attentively, studying
the white hand with its long, slender fingers. It was a very clean hand
for such a poorly dressed individual to boast. It did not look at all in
keeping with the clumsy boots, the frayed trousers, the worn ulster, the
battered satchel. It did not appear ever to have done a stroke of work
in its life.

Suppose the hand was genuine, and the rest only a disguise? Suppose in
reality this was Stuart, the criminal for whom both the Chicago and New
York police were searching? Oh, it wasn't likely--it could not be
likely. Why should a boy of his age hope to track down a thief when
agencies such as these had failed? It was preposterous.

Yet, notwithstanding the argument, the doubt would persist. What if,
after all, this was Stuart? Yet if it were, what should he do?

If he began to whisper his suspicious to McPhearson, the thief might
overhear and, put on his guard, leave the vehicle; and should he call
the conductor to his aid, the man would in all probability be unwilling
to believe such a tale and refuse to act. Moreover, perhaps he had no
authority to do so anyway.

Poor Christopher! His heart beat until it seemed as if the stranger
opposite must hear its throbbing and take warning. If only it were
possible to alight from the bus without exciting attention, maybe he and
McPhearson could get an officer. He sadly wanted somebody's help and
advice. The adventure was one he felt to be too big for him to handle
alone.

Nevertheless were he even to suggest leaving the car he knew his
companion would not only be surprised but would instantly v