"Wha--what is her name?"
"Mary Jacobotson. Her mind was turned years ago by reading romantic novels, and she imagines she has an uncle who is keeping her money away from her."
"Is she under the charge of an uncle?"
"No. Her father had her placed in the asylum, for he couldn"t keep her at home. Her father is a well-to-do builder of Hartford."
All this time the young lady, who was indeed insane, was clinging tightly to Nick Smithers" neck.
"Don"t leave me!" she implored. "I love you! Don"t leave me, and you shall have a million dollars and a rubber doll! Don"t leave me, Augustus! I implore thee, by the light of yonder stars!" And now she began to rave.
"I--I reckon I made a mistake," said the swindler, much crestfallen.
"Let go of me!" And now he pushed the raving girl from him. The train had stopped at a station, and in another moment the asylum keeper had the patient on the platform, where she continued to rave. Then the train moved on.
Sinking back in his seat at the dining-car table, the swindler mopped the beads of perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief. He was utterly disgusted.
"That is where I certainly put my foot in it," he muttered. "But I can be thankful I didn"t marry the girl!"
"Sorry, sar, but you"ll have to settle for this lunch," said the waiter.
"If so, I reckon I"ll eat it," answered Nick Smithers, and proceeded to do so.
Nat had watched the whole scene with interest. At first he was inclined to confront the swindler without delay, but then reconsidered the matter.
"I must go slow," he mused. "If I"m not careful he"ll get away again."
When Nick Smithers left the dining car Nat followed him to the smoker and saw the swindler settle down for a comfortable smoke.
"He isn"t going to leave the train just yet," thought our hero. "I shouldn"t be surprised if he is bound for Albany. If that"s so, I had better wait until we arrive there. Then we"ll be in New York State, where the offense was committed."
The train rattled on, and at the proper time rolled into the big station at Albany. Nat kept close behind Nick Smithers and at the same time looked around anxiously to see if he could find a policeman.
It was not long before our hero sighted an officer of the law, gazing curiously at the crowd leaving the train. At once he beckoned the policeman to come to him.
"What"s wanted?" asked the officer, anxiously.
"Do you see that man?"
"Yes."
"He is a swindler, who is wanted in New York City for swindling several men and myself. I want him arrested. Be careful how you handle him, for he ran away from me in Springfield."
"You are sure of this?"
"I am positive. But be careful, or he will get away."
"He won"t get away from me," said the policeman.
Nick Smithers was hurrying for the street when Nat and the officer of the law came up to him.
"Stop, Nick Smithers!" cried our hero, and caught him by the arm.
The swindler swung around, stared at Nat, and his face fell.
"This is the time you don"t get away so easily," went on Nat. "Officer, do your duty."
"You"ll have to consider yourself under arrest," said the policeman.
"This young man makes a charge against you."
"Why, that young man is a lunatic!" cried Nick Smithers, thinking of his experience on the train. "They let him out of the asylum only day before yesterday."
"Don"t you believe a word of it," said Nat. "This rascal is one of the slickest swindlers in the world. Take him to headquarters, and I"ll go along and prove every word I say."
"You"ll have to come along," said the officer.
"All right, I"ll go," answered Nick Smithers, but an instant later he started to run away through the crowd. Nat, however, was on guard, and putting out a foot, he sent the rascal pitching headlong on the depot platform.
"Hi! what did you do that for?" demanded Nick Smithers, on arising. And he glared at our hero as if to eat him up.
"You"ll come along with me!" came angrily from the policeman, and without more ceremony he marched the swindler to the police station, with our hero following.
CHAPTER x.x.x
NAT COMES INTO HIS OWN
Once at the police station, Nat made a charge against Nick Smithers, and then the swindler was asked what he had to say for himself.
"This is all a mistake," he said. "I am not the person."
"He is wanted in Chicago as well as in New York City," went on our hero.
In the meantime another officer had been looking up Nick Smithers"
picture in the rogues" gallery.
"I don"t think the young man is mistaken," he said. "Wait till I telephone to New York for more particulars."
This was done, and inside of an hour the rascal"s ident.i.ty was fully established. Then Nick Smithers broke down.
"It"s all up with me, and I may as well confess," he said, scowling at Nat. "But I must say, I never thought a country boy would run me down."
"Well, you see, I am not quite as green as I used to be," answered Nat, with a faint smile.
"But you missed it by not coming to me on the quiet," went on Nick Smithers. "Had you done so, you might have gotten your hundred dollars back. As it is, you"ll not get a cent."