bones," said
Henry, addressing his own steed. "Why don't you try that for a change
and you'd get home to supper quicker. Well, I s'pose you'll last longer
if you don't go so fast," and, with that comforting reflection, Henry
managed, after a time, to get his horse in motion, the beast having
almost gone to sleep during its driver's talk with Dick.

"Now to find Grit!" exclaimed the millionaire's son, as he galloped on.
"Poor dog, I hope they haven't abused you very much."

Dick did not stop along the road to make any further inquiries. He
reached Leonardville in good time and soon found his way to the Eagle
Hotel. He let Rex trot into the stable yard, and, dismounting, told one
of the hostlers to feed and water the animal when it had cooled off.

As Dick started up the steps to the porch, intending to make some
inquiries of the landlord, he suddenly started back in surprise, for,
coming out of the main entrance, was Simon Scardale.

"Hello, Simon!" exclaimed Dick.

"Why-er-w-w-why, hello--Dick," stammered Simon. "Have you come to--what
are you doing here?" he managed to say, with an attempt at pleasantry.

"I might ask you the same thing," responded Dick.

But Simon did not wait to hear anything further. He darted back into the
hotel murmuring:

"Wait a minute--I've forgotten something--see you right away----"

"He acts as though he was afraid to meet me," thought Dick, as he walked
on. "I wonder what he's doing here?"

An instant later he was surprised to see Simon come out of a side door
and fairly run to the stables. At the same instant a man appeared in the
door of the barn, and to him Simon made frantic gestures to remain
hidden. Then, as Dick watched this by-play with a bewildered air, there
came from the stable the bark of a dog.

"Grit!" exclaimed Dick. "Grit! Grit, old boy!"

The barks became a howl of rage and there sounded the rattle of a chain.

"Grit! Grit!" cried Dick, running toward the stable.

There was the noise of a chain snapping. Then came frightened shouts. An
instant later Simon, followed by a ragged man and a youth, dashed from
the barn with the bulldog in close pursuit. Out of the hotel yard they
raced, with Grit growling and barking and making fierce leaps for them.

"Grit!" called Dick, but, for once, Grit refused to obey his master's
voice. His heart was too full of revenge for the insults he had
suffered.

Out into the highway ran Simon and the two others, with the dog gain