The Argosy, Vol. XI No. 20 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ARGOSY ‘‘ Why not take me out on this run, and then you could get your man at the other end,” suggested Dash eagerly. ‘*Do you know the duties of the position ?” queried Freeman a little doubtfully. ‘* Try me and see,” smiled Dash. ‘* All right ; I guess you'll do. Be sure to be on hand.” Dash found he would have just time enough to go home and bid his folks a hasty fareweH before the hour of departure of the train for the West, and he lost no time in doing so. He little imagined what a strange series of events would follow on his first and only run as a flagman on an express train. (70 be continued.) DIGGING FOR GOLD. A STORY OF CALIFORNIA.* BY HORATIO ALGER, JR. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED GRANT COLBURN’S mother has inarried a miserly farmer—Seth Tarbox—who treats Graot very ineanly. But Grant is fortunate enough to save a train from ,olng throagh # bridge, a purse is made up for him by the passengers, and with this money he decides to try his fortune In the Californis gold diggings. He atarts overland with Mr. and Mre. Cooper and their son Ton, meets with various adventures, and when their provisions run outand they fear that they must kill and ent theirhorse Grant discorers a hermit living Ina log cabin, whom he takes buck with him to the camp. Thin is Giles Crosmont, a.wealhy Englishman, who is traveling over, the work! to try and forget the disappointment a vagabond son has caused him. He joins Mr. Cooper’a party, and supplies them with all his provisions, so that the journey 14 continued with comfort. On arrival in Sacramento Mr. Cooper buys out « Liackswmith’s shup and resumes work at his old trade, whichis here very remunerative. Tom starts for the inines, and Mr. Crosinont woes to San Frian- cisco, while Grant secures a position an waiter in Mr. Sinithson’s restaurant at a salary of three dollars a day and board. He intends to save enough to take him out to the miner. Tne other waiter in the establishment, Albert Benton, abstracts money from the cash drawer, and then seeks to throw suspiciou on Grant. Mr. Smithson speakaof the matter to a friend of his, Mr. Vincent. an ex-detective, who marks two bills with a red croas. follows Benton one night to a gambling house, succeeds in obtaining the two ollla in exchange for gold, and then brings them to Mr. Sinithson with his story. CHAPTER XXI. ALBERT BENTON IS UNMASKED. $e hat’s pretty conclusive evidence, isn't it?" said John Vincent, TT tapping the marked bills. ‘¢T didn't dream of it," said the restaurant keeper. ‘IT did. I suspected him as soon as you told me he was trying to fasten suspicion upon Grant Colburn.” ‘You don’t think the boy had anything to do with the theft ?” ‘7 feel sure of it. The boy is an honest boy. You have only to look in his face to see that, I haven't been a detective for nothing. I may be mistaken at times, but I can generally judge a man or boy by his face.” ‘¢ Does Benton know that you suspect him ?” “No. I wasn’t going to give myself away. By the way, he had quite a stroke of luck tonight.” ‘* At the gambling huuse ?” “Yes. At one time he was a winner of nearly or quite five hundred dollars.” ‘* Then he will be able to make up to me the amount he has taken.” ‘¢ Don't flatter yourself! I said he was a winner of that amount at onetime. I didn’t say he went out with that sum. Asa matter of fact, he lost it all, and left the place probably without a dollar.” Smithson looked disappointed. ‘¢Then,” he said, ‘‘ 1 shan’t get my money back.” ‘¢] am afraid not.” ‘¢ He must have taken hundreds of dollars.” ‘* Quite likely.” ‘*The villain!” exclaimed the restaurant keeper. paid him so liberally too [” ‘© Well, Smithson, it might have been worse. pretty tidy sum laid by.” Smithson’'s face changed, and he looked complacent. “Yes, Vincent,” he said. ‘I’m worth a little money.” '‘Good! Look upon this asa little setback that won’t materially affect you, and put it down to the account of profit and loss.” “Very good! I willdoso, But tomorrow I will give Mr. Benton his walking ticket.” Albert Benton came to work as usual in the morning. His employer came in half an hour late. By this time the waiter had become re- Genet *Begun in No. 490 of THE ARGOSY. ‘© And I have I suspect you have a 317 signed to his disappointment of the night previous. He recognized his folly in not making sure of the large sum he had at one time won, and determined to act more wisely in future. Presently, when he chanced to be unemployed, Smithson beckoned to him. ‘* Benton,” he said, ‘‘ you remember my speaking tu you about miss- ing money from the till ?” ‘** Yes, sir; but I thought you decided that it wasonly a falling off in receipts.” ‘* Yes, I said that ; but tt seems to me that the deficiency is too great to be accounted for in that way.” ‘You may be right, sir. You remember what I told you about the boy ?” ‘You think he took the money ?” ‘Tl feel about sure of it.” ‘*And you think he gambles it away ?” ‘*Such is my impression.” ‘* How am I to find out the truth of the matter ?" **T would suggest that you have the boy searched. I feel sure that you will find that he has a considerable sum of money in his pocket.” ‘* That may be, but he will say that he has saved it from his wages.” “Oh, yes; I have no doubt he will say so,” said Benton, nodding his head significantly. ‘* And it may be true. He doesn't seem to spend much.” ‘* He has bought some clothes.” ‘True; but he was quite able to do.so out of what I pay him and have money left over.” ‘* Well, I hope it is so. I don’t want to harm the doy, but I thought it only due to you to tell you what I know.” ‘You don’t appear to know much. You only suspect. will call Grant and see what he has to say.” Grant, being summoned, came up to where they were standing. ‘Do you want to speak to me, Mr. Smithson ?”’ he asked. ‘Yes, Grant ; about an unpleasant matter.” ‘* Have I done anything wrong ? Are you dissatished with me ?” ‘IT can't say. The fact is, for some time time past I have been miss- ing money from the drawer.” Grant's look of surprise was genuine. ‘‘T am very sorry to hear it,” he said. ‘Of course the money could not have disappeared of itself. one must have taken it.” ‘*T hope you don’t suspect me,” said Grant quickly. ‘*T have always regarded you as honest, but Benton here tells me that you have formed some bad habits.” ‘* T should be glad to know what Mr, Benton has to say about me,” said Grant, regarding his fellow waiter with indignation. Benton, in spite of his assurance, could not help looking confused and ill at ease. “He tells me that you are in ghe habit of visiting gambling saloons.” ‘* He hastold you a falsehood,” said Grant boldly. ‘‘T told you he would deny it, Mr. Smithson,” said Benton, deter- mined to face it through. ‘* Has he seen mein a gambling house ?” demanded Grant. ‘*T have seen you coming out of one.” ‘¢ That's false. Jf he can find any one to confirm his false charge, I will not object to your believing it.” ‘‘T have no doubt a good many have seen you there.” ‘Is there any other charge he brings against me, Mr. Smithson ?” ‘* He @ays he has seen you under the influence of liquor.” ‘¢ That alsois false. He has invited me go into a saloon and take a drink, but I always refused.” ‘*Qh, you are an angel,” sneered Benton. ‘© T dou't pretend to be an angel, but I am honest and temperate, and I never drink.” ‘SI think, Mr. Smithson, if you will search the boy you will find a good sum of money in his pocket.” ‘* Is that true, Grant 2?” asked the restaurant keeper. ““VYes, sir. I have about a hundred dollars in my pocket.” ‘TL told you so,” said Benton triumphantly. ‘©T never knew there was anything wrong ih saving money,” retorted Grant. ‘‘I am anxious to get together money enough to warrant me in going to the mines,” ‘There is nothing wrong in that,” said: Smithson kindly. ‘* And now, Grant, that we have had Benton's testimony against you, I want to ask you what you know against him.” ‘* | would rather not tell,” answered Grant. However, I Some ECORnniEclooe SAGon