ls from his pocket. At the
sight of the money the eyes of the colored man shone in anticipation of
a tip he might receive. His opinion of the stranger went up several
points. Such is the effect of money, and it is not always the right
one.

"Are you going to travel in this car?" asked Roy.

"Yes, it looks like a fairly decent coach. I am really quite
particular how I ride."

Roy was rather amused at the airs Mortimer De Royster assumed, and he
did not quite know whether to like him or not. The youth had an
affected manner of speaking, and some oddities, but, in spite of these
Roy thought he might be all right at heart.

The boy from the ranch had learned, from his life in the west, not to
judge persons by outward appearances, though they often give an
indication of character.

"I don't believe I thanked you for what you did for me," went on De
Royster to Roy, when the porter returned with his ticket and the
change. The colored man's heart was made happy by a generous tip.

"I don't know that I did anything in particular. I didn't think they
were going to take your hide off, or I would have warned you sooner."

"My hide off? I don't quite catch your meaning, my dear chap--Oh, yes,
I see. You mean they were going to skin me. Oh, yes. That's a good
joke. Ha! Ha! Well, thanks to you, they didn't."

"Still they got something."

"Yes, that watch was a valuable one, and one my father gave me as a
present. The diamond was worth considerable, too. But I am glad they
did not get my money. Only for your timely warning they might have.
Some of it is mine, but the most of it belongs to the firm I work for."

"They tried to get me into some swindling games, but I refused to have
anything to do with them," and Roy told of the efforts of Baker and his
cronies.

"I was easily taken in," admitted Mortimer De Royster. "I am ashamed
of myself."

"Do you carry a valuable stock?" asked Roy, wondering if it were not
dangerous to have so much jewelry about one.

"Quite valuable, yes, but all traveling jewelry salesmen belong to a
league, and if thieves get away with anything belonging to any member,
we have the services of a good detective agency to run the criminals
down. The professional thieves know this, and, as capture is almost
certain in the end, we have little fear of being robbed. These
swindlers took my personal property, and nothing belonging to the firm,
I'm glad to say."

"Perhaps you will ge