My father and I generally put up at one of the better hotels," he said
affectedly. "But, of course, this is all right for roughing it."

"Roughing it!" exclaimed Walter. "Come off! Why, it's good enough for a
king here."

"Oh, well, wait until you've been about a bit," answered Simon
languidly.

After supper Dick took his friends to a theatre, where a war-time play
was in progress, and even Simon and Guy enthused over the stirring
scenes.

The next day was spent in visiting Central Park, the big zoo at Bronx
Park, and the Museums of Art and Natural History.

Simon acted as escort, for he was fairly well acquainted with objects of
interest in New York, and Dick good-naturedly let him pilot the boys
about as though Simon was paying for it all instead of the millionaire's
son footing the bills.

It was not long before a keen reporter had learned of the presence in
New York of the wealthy youth of whom the papers had recently contained
so much, and there appeared several items telling of the trip. There
were a number of incorrect stories in print, and Dick was credited with
having expended nearly ten thousand dollars on his simple little
pleasure jaunt.

The result of this was that Dick was visited by a number of cranks, or,
rather, they came to the hotel; but the wise manager, who had been
telephoned to by Mr. Hamilton, had an eye to the wealthy youth's
comfort, and few of the bothersome ones got beyond the lobby.

"I say," spoke Guy to Simon, on the afternoon of the third day in New
York, when Dick was in the far end of the room, writing a letter home,
"when are you going to pull off that trick, Simon?"

"This evening," was the cautious answer. "I've seen Colonel Dendon, and
he's coming here to-night. I'm going to introduce him to Dick. The
colonel says he'll whack up with me whatever he gets out of him, and
I'll see that you get your share."

"But, say," went on Guy. "This is no gold-brick swindle, is it? I
wouldn't do anything wrong--or--er--criminal--you know. Is it all
right?"

"Of course it is!" exclaimed Simon, with a show of indignation. "Do you
think I'd do anything that wasn't right, or for which I could
be--er--get into trouble?"

"I didn't know," ventured Guy.

"Of course I wouldn't," continued Simon, with a great show of
indignation that any one should suspect him. "This thing is perfectly
legitimate. I know a certain party here--Colonel Dendon by name--who has
all kinds of stocks and bonds f