He made a dash for our hero, but Nat was too quick for him. The boy ran across the street and around a corner, and in a moment more was out of sight. Rufus Cameron shook his fist in impotent rage.
"The jig's up!" he muttered. "What a mess! I thought I'd get a thousand dollars out of Shanley for that paper!"
Nat did not slacken his pace until he had reached the river. Then he ran aboard a ferry boat, and journeyed thus to New York, thinking that possibly his enemy would watch the cars.
When our hero reached the office he found that the regular force of clerks had already left, but his employer was still at his desk, finishing up some business of importance.
"Hullo! you are back quickly," exclaimed John Garwell.
"Yes, sir, and there's the document," answered Nat, and placed the paper on the desk.
John Garwell stared in amazement.
"Why, how did this happen?" he queried.
"It was blind luck, I guess," said Nat, and sitting down, he told his tale.
"You certainly were lucky. So that rascal wanted to bribe you?"