Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/133

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THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.
119

"I haven't twenty dollars with me."

"Indeed! I thought you looked like a well-to-do young man——"

"I have twelve dollars——"

"Well—let that do, but be quick!"

And the stranger held out his hand for the amount.

"Never mind," remarked Matt, struck with an idea which he resolved to carry out if he went into the scheme at all. "I'll take the money from the pocket-book, and if I find the owner I will tell him how I came to do it."

"No; don't you touch the contents of the pocketbook!" exclaimed the stranger, hastily snatching the article in question from Matt's hand. "That would not be right!"

"Yes, but I will make it right with the owner, if I——"

"I can't wait any longer for that train!" cried the stranger, and without another word he placed the pocket-book into his coat-pocket and disappeared into the crowd.

For the instant Matt stared after him, and then a light burst upon the boy's mind.

"He is a confidence man and was trying to swindle me!" he murmured to himself. "If that pocket-book contained much it was a single dollar