"Not so fast, Uncle Abner!" cried our hero. "You had better keep your money."
"Wh—what?"
"Put your money away."
"See here, what do you mean by interfering?" said the stranger, roughly.
"If he gives up the pocketbook take the ten dollars out of that," went on Nat. "My idea is, there isn't a dollar in the pocketbook."
"Nat!"
"That's right, uncle. This is an old game. I heard all about it only a few days ago."
"Oh, you go to grass!" cried the stranger, with a malicious look at Nat, and then he hurried away with all speed.
"Where did you spring from, Nat?"
"I was in this neighborhood on an errand, Uncle Abner. How do you do, Mrs. Guff."