you to leave this hotel at once," he said sharply, to the
white-haired man. "If you don't go I shall be under the necessity of
putting you under arrest."

CHAPTER VIII

DICK AND THE REPORTER

For a few moments after the surprising announcement, no one spoke. The
boys and Colonel Dendon stared at the newcomer. The colonel was the
first to recover himself.

"What is the meaning of this unwarranted intrusion?" he demanded, in
pompous tones. "These young gentlemen and myself were discussing some
financial matters when you interrupt us. You have doubtless made a
mistake, and I will overlook it this time. Withdraw at once, sir, or I
shall have to call the servants and have you thrown out of these private
apartments, sir!"

"Better go easy," suggested the quiet-looking man, with just the
suggestion of a smile. "If there's any throwing out to be done I reckon
I'll take a hand in it."

"What do you mean, sir? Leave the room at once!" exclaimed the colonel,
getting red in the face.

"I mean just this, William Jackson, _alias_ Colonel Dendon, _alias_ Bond
Broker Bill!" said the man sharply, "that you must leave this hotel at
once or I shall arrest you. You can't conduct any of your swindling
games here--trying to sell fake stocks and bonds. I saw you come in, and
learned that you were calling on this young man," and he nodded to Dick,
who was much surprised at the proceeding. "I got up here in time to warn
him, I see. I hope you haven't given him any money?" he asked of the
millionaire's son.

"I--I was just going to--for some bonds he had."

"Lucky I came in," was the man's reply. "Now beat it, Bill," and he
waved his hand toward the door. "Take your trash with you," he added,
sweeping the bonds from the table.

Dick and the other boys, with the possible exception of Simon, expected
to see the colonel defend himself and indignantly reply to the stranger.
Instead he hurriedly gathered up his papers and fairly raced from the
room.

"Is he--is he a swindler?" asked Dick, faintly.

"One of the slickest in New York," was the answer. "His game is to sell
fake bonds in companies that never existed, though some of them are
legally organized. Once in a while, just to fool the police, he deals in
regular stocks, but the kind he usually sells are fake ones. I'm the
hotel detective," the man went on. "We have to be always on the lookout
for such chaps as he is, especially when we have young millionaires
stopping at t