“And as soon as he comes we’ll put the screws on the boys. That will bring their folks to terms,” said Davenport.
The next day the fellow called Booster put in an appearance, and despite the wig he was wearing the boys to their surprise recognized the young man who had introduced himself as Joe Brooks. The confidence man smiled grimly when Jack spoke to him.
“I fooled you kids pretty neatly, didn’t I, in New York and in Chicago?” said Joe Booster, for that was his real name. “You never suspected that I was in with Davenport, did you?”
“Then you don’t know Fatty Hendry at all, do you?” put in Andy.
“Oh, I met him once,” answered the confidence man carelessly. “I palmed myself off as a friend of one of his cousins and got him to lend me ten dollars. That was when I was pretty well down on my uppers.”
Davenport, Tate, Jackson and Booster had a long conversation and then the four rascals came again to the boys.
“Well, how are you making out?” asked Booster pleasantly. “They give you pretty good grub, don’t they?”
“No, it’s getting worse every day,” answered Fred bluntly.
“Why, I thought they were giving you genuine mocha coffee,” went on the confidence man.
“Giving us dishwater!” retorted Andy.