enable me to
find Grit. Well, I guess I've seen the last of Simon Scardale."

It was not exactly the last, but Simon did not reappear in Hamilton
Corners, and, though he afterward played a part in Dick's life, he had
dropped out of it for the present.

The horse and wagon, which the man and youth left behind, was called for
that evening by an individual of the tramp variety, but, as he brought
the cash to pay the last of the hotel bill, the landlord let him take
the rig. Dick decided to stay at the Eagle Hotel all night, and he sent
a telegram to his father explaining his absence and telling of his
success. He decided he would not follow up Simon or his cronies to
prosecute them for the theft.

As the journey was a little too long for Grit to make afoot, and as Dick
could not take him in the saddle with him, he sent Rex home in care of a
man he hired, and engaged a carriage for himself and the dog, arriving
home the next day at noon.

"Well," remarked Mr. Hamilton, as his son came in with Grit, "your
detective work was all right."

"Yes, thanks to Henry Darby," answered the son. "I'm going to send him a
check for a hundred dollars," which he proceeded to do.

"Here are a couple of letters for you," went on the millionaire, handing
the missives to his son. One proved to be a note from Guy Fletcher. He
had heard what had occurred regarding the dog, for Mr. Hamilton told
several friends of his son's telegram, and Guy hastened to assure Dick
that he had no idea of Simon's scheme.

"He told me he was only going to play a joke on you," wrote Guy, in the
note which was delivered by a messenger. "He took the leash from your
pocket the night of the party, and said he was going to hide Grit and
make you believe he was stolen. I hope you don't believe I'd have
anything to do with Simon if I thought he intended to really steal your
dog. He has gone out West, I hear, somewhere in the gold mine region. My
father has forbidden me to ever speak to Simon again."

"I guess you'll not get a chance right away," murmured Dick.

The whole thing was plain to him now. Simon wanted money, and thought he
could make it by getting the man and youth to steal Grit, and then
making Dick put the two hundred dollars under the stone. Everything had
gone well up to a certain point. The dog had been taken away, carried in
the wagon to Leonardville, and thither Simon had gone to make the final
arrangements. The unexpected appearance of Dick had