beard an' agin a black moustache, but
dem fly cops, dem gum-shoe sleuths, dey knowed him every time. I'll
stake me reputation dat was him on de platform."

"But what can he be doing here?" asked Dick, "and why should he make a
bee-line for the telegraph office when he saw me? I'm positive he knew
who I was."

"Course he did," replied Tim. "He's probably sendin' a telegram to some
of his friends in Yazoo City t' be on de lookout for youse."

"Do you think so? But how would he know I had started for there?"

"Say," inquired Tim, in drawling tones, "don't de hull town where you
live know dat Millionaire Hamilton's son is goin' off on a journey in a
palace car, an' takin' some friends, includin' Tim Muldoon, wid him? In
course dey does. An' youse can bet your bottom dollar dat everybody in
Hamilton Corners is talkin' about it. Vanderhoof, or Bond Broker Bill,
knowed it as soon as anybody, an' if he's been puttin' up a crooked deal
he's gittin' ready t' fix t'ings on de other end--at Yazoo City, I
mean."

"Then, if he has warned his confederates out West," went on Dick,
"there's not much use in my going there to make an investigation. They'd
be sure to have things fixed up to deceive me. I depended on finding out
about the mines before those in charge knew who I was."

"You can do dat yet," said Tim.

"How?"

"Why, lay low, dat's how. Don't go out dere wid de idea of handin' your
visitin' card t' every guy you meet. Drift int' town easy like an' look
about on de quiet fer a few days. Den youse kin see how de land lays an'
git a line on de fakers. After dat youse can go up to de villain like de
hero does in de play an' say: 'Now den, Red-Handed Mike, I have caught
youse at last! You shall give me dose paper-r-r-r-s er I'll shoot you
down like a dog!'" and Tim laughed with the others at his imitation of
the methods of the actors on the stage when a cheap melodrama is being
performed.

"I don't know but your advice is good," agreed Dick. "I can't catch
Vanderhoof now, but perhaps we can spoil his plans. Let's have a
consultation and decide what's best to do."

The boys had the parlor car pretty much to themselves, and their talk
was not likely to be overheard by the other passengers who were in the
farther end.

The journey was a pleasant one, and the boys enjoyed every hour of it.
The country through which they passed presented, almost constantly,
something new in the way of scenery, and as they proceeded farther