By this time the boat had reached the New York dock, and the boys separated.
“Herman’s opinion of you has changed materially in a short time,” said Ben, smiling.
“Yes,” answered Frank, “and it would change back again if I should lose my fortune.”
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BEN OVERHEARS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
Two days later found Ben a passenger bound for Boston on one of the palatial steamers of the Fall River line.
He looked about him to see if among the eight hundred passengers he could recognize any one. He walked through the brilliant saloon and out upon the open deck in the rear. There were but few passengers outside, as the air was fresh and chill. Ben looked about him carelessly, when his gaze was suddenly arrested by one face.
It was not an attractive face, but quite the reverse. There was a sly and cunning expression, and a mean, treacherous look about the eyes that naturally excited distrust. All this would not have attracted Ben’s notice, who had seen many ill-looking faces in his wanderings, but there was something familiar in the general appearance of the man, some resemblance to a face that he had known. He could not tell immediately whom the man resembled, but it came to him after a while.
The man before him, though probably twenty-five years younger, bore a strong resemblance to his stepfather, Jacob Winter.
Then the thought occurred to him: “This must be the Ezra Winter who has lured Mr. Winter into mining speculations. If it is, he looks just like a man who would have no scruple in swindling him.”