The office building in which the wholesale lumber dealer did business was situated several blocks from the depot and thither the pair made their way.
As they entered the wide hallway Robert suddenly clutched Dick Marden by the arm.
And our hero pointed to where Huskin stood, in conversation with an old gentleman in black.
"You are certain he is the man?" asked the miner.
"Yes; I would never forget that smooth face and those wicked eyes."
"He seems to be playing some confidence game now," went on Dick Marden.
The miner was right. Jim Huskin had the old man in black in an out of the way corner and was conversing with him in great earnestness.
"You cannot lose on the venture, Mr. Price," he said, as our hero and Marden drew closer. "The shares will always be worth the money you put into them. Better let me have the check now, and I will buy them inside of the next hour."
"Yes, yes, but are you quite sure it is safe?" asked the old man, in a trembling voice. "You see, I cannot afford to lose four hundred dollars."
"You will not lose--I will guarantee the shares myself," answered the confidence man earnestly.
"Very well, if you will guarantee them," said the old man, and drew out his pocketbook, which held several bankbills, and a filled in check for the amount Huskin desired.
At that moment Robert placed his hand upon the confidence man's shoulder.
"So we meet again, Jim Huskin," he said coldly.
The rascal turned in amazement, and then his face fell.
"Why--er--what--who are you?" he stammered, hardly being able to speak.
"You know very well who I am," answered our hero. "I am the boy you robbed in Chicago."
"Robbed!" gasped the old man in black. "Did you say robbed?"
"I did, sir. This man is a rascal and a thief."
"You are mistaken----" began Jim Huskin, but his manner showed how uncomfortable he felt.
"A rascal and a thief!" murmured the old man, and looked as if he would faint. It did not take him long to place his pocketbook in his pocket again.
Jim Huskin was a man who made up his mind quickly. He saw that Robert had the best of him, and that his only chance for safety lay in flight. Turning swiftly, he started to run from the building.
But he had reckoned without Dick Marden, and he had scarcely taken two steps when the miner put out his foot and sent him sprawling in the hallway. At once a crowd began to collect.