"Wash up and we'll see," exclaimed Ned.
The young reporter was still laughing. "And if it isn't too much trouble," he asked, "would you mind if Buck took his check over to the depot and got the suit case that it calls for? Then we'll talk business."
In less than twenty minutes the sun burnt, dirty Gus Lippe had been transformed into the dapper Bob Russell. When he reappeared in fresh linen, outing clothes and a natty straw hat, he was still laughing. Approaching the group in the drawing room, where Marshal Jack Jellup had now arrived, the young reporter took out his pocket book and a five dollar bill.
"I'll pay that back first," he began; and then noticing one of his cards he politely handed it to the marshal. It read:
ROBERT RUSSELL KANSAS CITY COMET
"Ye'r a purty fresh kid," sneered Jellup.
"At your service, Mr. Officer."
Jellup had already received an explanation of the whole affair and was aching to exercise his authority.
"Ye'r an impostor," he began, "and ef ye hadn't been caught, ye'd have taken money on false pretenses. I was onto ye."
"Oh, now," interrupted Bob, "at two dollars Mex per day I'd have given good value."