CHAPTER XIV
NAT OBTAINS ANOTHER SITUATION
"How is it that you know so much about this man?" asked Nat, after hehad collected his thoughts.
"I am a police official from Chicago," answered one of the two men whohad tried to catch Hamilton Dart. "We have been on this rascal's trailfor some time."
"Is Hamilton Dart his real name?"
"No; his real name is Nick Smithers. He is a sly rogue."
"Do you think there is any chance of catching him?" asked Harry Bray. "Icannot afford to lose my money."
"Nor I," added our hero.
"I must have my money back!" groaned the sick man. "What will my sistersay? She got it out of the bank only yesterday!"
"I wish I could help you," said the Chicago police official. "We'll dowhat we can."
All went back to the office, and the janitor of the building was calledin.
"Sure, an' Mr. Dart has had the office only about a week," said thejanitor. "He hasn't paid the rent yet. He said he was in the habit ofpayin' in the middle of the month."
"Then the owner of this building is out of pocket, too," said one of themen from the West.
An examination was made of the desk used by the swindler, but nothing ofvalue was found. The letters and bills were of no consequence, and theblank books were not worth twenty-five cents each.
"Let us go to the police station," said the men, and they went off,followed by the sick man.
"This is the worst yet," remarked Nat, as he dropped into the one easychair of which the office boasted. "And I thought I was so smart. I'm aregular greeny, if ever there was one!" And he shook his head bitterly.
"I'm in the same boat," responded his fellow victim. "My father will bepretty mad when he hears of this. He lent me the money, and I assuredhim it would be perfectly safe."