uddenly a thought came into the wicked brain of Caleb Annister. This
might be the very chance he was looking for! Baker and his men could
get Roy out of the way for him. He would try it.

"Perhaps you might do me a service," he said. "It is very simple, and
does not amount to a great deal."

Mr. Baker knew the real estate agent well enough to feel that whenever
he wanted anything done, it was no small matter. But he merely said:

"Tell me what it is. If it's possible we'll do it--for money, of
course."

"Oh, it's very possible, and I will be willing to pay you and your
friends well. Come and have lunch with me, and we will talk it over."

Caleb Annister had intended going to an expensive restaurant and
ordering a fine meal, for he was fond of good living, but, when he
found he would have to take Baker, and pay for his dinner, he changed
his plans, and went to a cheap eating place.

There, sitting in a secluded corner, Mr. Annister unfolded a plot to
the swindler.

"There is a certain young man, lately arrived in New York," said the
real estate agent, "who is bothering me. Nothing serious, you
understand, but I have a certain deal to put through and he might spoil
it. I want him kept out of the way for two weeks. By that time my
plans will be finished, and I don't care what he does. Do you think
you can get him, and take him, say to some nearby town, or even some
place in New York and keep him there for two weeks? But I must insist
that no harm comes to him."

With all his swindling schemes, Mr. Annister would not go too far.

"Sure we can do it," replied Phelan Baker. "That's easy. What do we
get for it?"

"If you get him away, and keep him out of sight for two weeks all will
be well, and I will pay you a thousand dollars."

"Good enough! We'll do it. Now who is this boy you want taken away?"

"Roy Bradner."

"What? Roy Bradner, the boy from Triple O ranch?"

"That's the one. But what do you know of him?" and Mr. Annister was
very much astonished.

"This is curious," murmured Baker. "Very curious. I'll tell you about
it, Annister."

CHAPTER XVIII

ROY IN DANGER

When Roy got out into the street again, after paying for the pie he had
forgotten about, he was quite puzzled as to which direction to take to
get back to his hotel.

"Guess I'm off the trail," he told himself. "I'd ought to have brought
a compass along. Let's see, which way is North?"

He looked about for a