CHAPTER VIII
A STOP FOR REPAIRS
For a few seconds the four men were too surprised to say anything.They stood looking at each other and, when they had gone to the smokingroom, with an angry glance at Mr. Baker, Sutton remarked:
"I thought you said the kid would bite at this game?"
"I thought he would."
"Well, you've got another 'think' coming."
"Yes, you've bungled this thing all the way through," added Hynard.
"I didn't blunder any more than you did. I'd like to know who firstmade his acquaintance, and found out he had money."
"Well, you did that part of it, but he's got his money yet, and wehaven't," said Tupper.
"And we're not likely to get it," went on Hynard. "I think he'll besuspicious of us after this."
"Maybe not," remarked Sutton, hopefully. "We may be able to get himinto some other kind of a game. If we can't--"
He did not finish, but the other men knew what he meant. Roy hadincurred the enmity of some dangerous characters, and it behooved himto be on the lookout.
The boy had not been in his seat many minutes before an elderlygentleman, the one who had been describing the various scenes ofinterest, came up to him.
"Did I see you playing some game with those men just now?" he asked.
"They were showing me a game," answered Roy. "They said they wanted totest my quick eyesight."
"What was it?"
"It was a game with three shells and a small ball."
"I thought so. My boy, do you know what that game is called?"
"No, sir, but I didn't care to play it the way they wanted me to. Theywanted me to bet money."
"And you refused?"
"I sure did."
"That is where you were right. That is an old swindling trick, calledthe 'shell game'. If you had bet any money you would have lost."
"I thought as much," said Roy. "I'm not so green as I look, even if Ispent all my life on a ranch."
"Indeed you are not, I am glad to see. I would advise you not to haveanything more to do with those men."
"Do you know them?"
"No, but they have the ways and airs of professional gamblers."
"They tried to rope me up, I guess," said Roy. "But they didn't haverope enough to tie me. Now I know their brand I'll sure be careful notto mix in with 'em."
"I don't exactly understand your terms. I--"
"I beg your pardon," said Roy. "I suppose I talk, more or less, as Ido on the ranch. I meant they tried to get me into one of theircorrals and take my hide off. Hold me up, you know."
"I'm afraid I don't exactly know," went on the gentleman with a smile,"but I gather that you mean they would have robbed you, after gettingyou into their power."
"That's it," said Roy. "I'm on another trail now, and they want to becareful," and he looked as though he could take care of himself, a factthat the gentleman noticed.
"I felt like warning you, my boy," he said, "as I saw it was your firstlong journey."
"And I'm much obliged to you," said Roy. "I wonder how everyone knowsI'm a tenderfoot when it comes to traveling on railroad trains?"
"A tenderfoot?"
"Yes, that's what we call persons who don't know much about westernlife. I suppose their feet get tender from taking such long walks onthe plains. Anyhow that means a sort of 'greenhorn' I suppose.Everyone on the train spots me for that."
"Well, it is easy to see you are not used to traveling, for you take somuch interest in everything, and you show that it is new to you. Butyou are learning fast. Even an experienced traveler might have beentaken in by those gamblers."
"I guess they'll not bother me any more," said Roy.
And he was right, but only to a certain extent, for, though thegamblers did not "bother" him again, he had not seen the last of them,as you shall see.
The tricksters were in a bad mood, and, soon after that they left thesmoking room, and remained in another car, so Roy did not see themagain that day.
The express continued on, bringing the boy nearer and nearer toChicago. He wished he might have a little time to spend there, as hehad heard much of it, especially the stock yards, where his father sentmany head of cattle in the course of a year. But Roy knew he musthurry on to New York, to attend to the business on which he had beensent.
The next morning, soon after breakfast, the train came to a suddenstop, near a small railroad station. As the express did not stop,except at the large cities, Roy wondered if some one like himself, hadflagged the engineer. Soon he was aware, however, that somethingunusual had occurred. Passengers began leaving their seats, and wentout of the cars.
"I wonder what's the matter?" Roy said aloud. He was overheard by thegentleman who had talked to him about the gamblers, and who had givenhis name, as John Armstrong.
"I think we've had an accident," said Mr. Armstrong.
"An accident? Is anybody killed?"
"No, I do not think so. Suppose we get out and see what the troubleis?"
They left their seats, and joined the other passengers who were walkingtoward the head of the train, which was a long one. It did not takemany seconds to ascertain that an accident had occurred to the engineof the express, and that it would be necessary to send to the nextstation to get materials to make repairs.
"That means we'll be held here for some time," observed Mr. Armstrong."Well, if the delay is not too long, it will give you a chance to walkabout and stretch your muscles."
"And I'll be glad enough to do it," replied Roy. "I'm not used tositting still, and it sure is very tiresome to me. I'd like to have mypony, Jack Rabbit, here now. I'd take a fine gallop."
"Well, I think a walk will have to answer in place of it now. Theredoes not seem to be much in the way of amusements at this station."
The depot was a mere shanty, with a small telegraph and ticket officein it. A few houses and a store made up the "town," which was locatedon the plains.
As Roy started toward the depot many of the passengers got back intheir cars, as the sun was hot. Roy, however, rather enjoyed it.Among those who had alighted were Mr. Baker and his three cronies.They stood on the depot platform, talking together.
"Maybe they're trying to get up some new scheme to get me to gamble,"thought Roy. As he neared the station his attention was attracted by arather curious figure.
This was a young man whom Roy at once characterized as a "dude," for heand the cowboys had been in the habit of so calling any one who was aswell dressed as was the stranger. And Roy at once knew that the manhad not been on the train before, as the boy from the ranch had seenall the passengers during his journey.
The "tenderfoot", as Roy also characterized him, was attired in a lightsuit, the trousers very much creased. He had on a purple necktie,rather a high collar, and patent leather shoes. In his hand he carrieda light cane, and in one eye was a glass, called a monocle. Beside himwas a dress-suit case, and he looked as if he was ready to travel.
Roy glanced at him, and was inclined to smile at the elaborate costumeof the youth, for the western lad had the usual cattleman's contemptfor fashionable clothes, arguing (not always rightly) that a person whopaid so much attention to dress could not amount to a great deal.
The young man stood leaning against the side of the depot, carelesslyswinging his cane. Roy could see he had a valuable watch chain acrosshis vest, and, in his tie there sparkled what was presumably a diamond.
As Roy watched he saw Baker and his three cronies approach the "dude."A moment later they had engaged him in conversation.
"I'll bet they're up to some game," mused Roy. "I wonder if I can findout what it is, and spoil it? I believe they will try to get the bestof that 'tenderfoot.' Guess I'll see what's up."