Dick Hamilton's Fortune Part 10

"I don't mind investing some money, say five hundred or a thousand dollars, in good mining stocks--if you are sure they are good," he said, turning to Colonel Dendon.

"Good! My dear young man, do you wish to insult me? As if I would deal in stocks that were anything but the best. I shall leave at once!" and, puffing up like an angry toad, the colonel again turned as if to go.

"Wait!" exclaimed Simon. "I'm sure my friend d.i.c.k didn't mean anything, Colonel. You see, he has never bought mining stocks before, and he doesn't know much about them."

"I know enough to want to be sure they are good!" replied d.i.c.k sharply, for he rather resented Simon's tone. "I'm not going to be swindled."

"Of course not," said the colonel, in less aggrieved tones. "I was a little too hasty. But I can a.s.sure you, Mr. Hamilton, that these securities are the very best of their kind. They are gilt-edged."

As he spoke he drew from his pocket a bundle of certificates which, as far as appearances went, were "gilt-edged," for there was a broad band of gilt all around them.

"I can let you have these for eight hundred dollars," he said; "and they will be worth a thousand inside of a month. I would keep them myself only I have bigger schemes on hand. I will let you have them as a special favor, Mr. Hamilton."

d.i.c.k examined the certificates. They certainly looked just like those he had often seen in his father's bank. They bore a number of flourishing signatures and a printed notice to the effect that they were listed on the New York Stock Exchange. They called for a number of shares of stock in a Pennsylvania oil well concern.

d.i.c.k felt impelled to take them. It seemed all right, even if he did have some lingering suspicion regarding the colonel. Still, appearances might be against him, and certainly Simon seemed to know the man.

d.i.c.k saw a vision of his investment turning out well, so he would have no further worry about fulfilling the conditions of the will. Once they were met he could enjoy his new wealth.

"I think I'll take these," he said, reaching for his pocket-book, where he carried several hundred dollars, though he had left some of his money in the hotel safe. "I will give you part cash and a check."

"It will be a fine investment," said Colonel Dendon; but he did not say for whom. "I can a.s.sure you, Mr. Hamilton, that I never sold such gilt-edged securities before. I am glad----"

At that instant the door of d.i.c.k's apartments opened, and a quietly-dressed man entered. He looked at the group of boys, noted the bundle of stock certificates, and then his glance rested on Colonel Dendon.

"I must ask 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

d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k, 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.

d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k, 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 the house," and he smiled at d.i.c.k.

"I'm much obliged to you," answered d.i.c.k heartily. "You've saved me a considerable sum."

"That's what I'm here for," returned the detective cheerfully. "Don't go buying any gold bricks, now," and, with a nod at the boys, he was gone.

"Well, wouldn't that rattle your teeth!" exclaimed "Bricktop." "I've read about those confidence men and green-goods swindlers, but I never saw one before."

"Me, either," remarked Frank Bender. "Say, this will be something to tell the folks back home," and, in the excitement of his spirits he tried to stand on his head in a washbowl on the stand. It was full of water, and his acrobatic feat was brought to an abrupt end as he lifted his head, dripping wet.

"That's a new way to do it!" exclaimed Walter Mead, with a laugh.

"Ugh! Burrrr! Wow! Whew! Give me a towel, quick!" yelled Frank. "The water had soap in it, and it's got in my eyes!"

He groped around with outstretched hands, seeking a towel, which, after he was able to stop laughing, d.i.c.k handed him.

"Did you know that Colonel Dendon was a swindler?" asked Walter of Simon, when the excitement had somewhat subsided.

"Me? No, of course not!" exclaimed Simon hastily. "All I knew was that he sold bonds, and I thought it would be a good chance for d.i.c.k to make money. He said he wanted to learn business and make money. I--I was as much surprised as any of you," concluded Simon, with an injured air. "I hope you don't think, d.i.c.k, that I would have had anything to do with that man if I had known what he was?"

"I'm not blaming you any," replied d.i.c.k. "Mistakes will happen in the best of regulated financial affairs. Glad that detective happened to come in when he did or I might have been badly stung."

It was now too late to go out to any amus.e.m.e.nt and the boys, after discussing the recent happenings, went to bed, planning to visit many points of interest the next day.

"Well, your scheme didn't work out, did it?" said Guy to Simon, as they went to their rooms.

"Not exactly," was the answer. "But I give you my word I didn't know the colonel was such a swindler as that. Never mind, though, I'll make money out of d.i.c.k--somehow."

d.i.c.k and his chums had scarcely finished their breakfast the next morning, and were preparing to go out, when the bell boy brought up a card reading:

+------------------------+ | LAWRENCE DEXTER | | | | _New York Leader_ | +------------------------+

"Who is it?" asked "Bricktop," "another man to sell bonds?"

d.i.c.k handed over the card.

"_New York Leader_, eh? I wonder what he leads, a band or some political party?"

"That's a reporter," said Walter. "Going to let him in, d.i.c.k?"

"Yes, I guess so. I'm tired of having stuff in the papers about me; but these reporters have to get the stories they're sent after, and it's no use making it any harder for them than they have it. Tell him to come up," he said to the waiting bell boy.

A tall, good-looking youth, with a pleasant, manly air, entered the room.