CHAPTER XXVII
A SCENE AT THE HOTEL
The fellow who had posed as a broker and commission merchant was taken completely by surprise when confronted by Nat, and for the moment did not know what to say.
"I guess you didn't expect to see me again," said our hero, after a pause, during which Nick Smithers—to use his real name—glared fiercely at the youth.
"Excuse me, boy, but I don't know you!" said the swindler, at last. "You have made a strange mistake."
"Oh, no, I haven't," answered Nat. "You are Hamilton Dart, alias Nick Smithers."
"My dear young friend you are in error. My name is Josiah Garfield, and I am from Concord, Massachusetts."
"I am not mistaken. You are Nick Smithers, and you are the rascal who swindled me in New York City."
"Boy, you must be mad!" burst out Nick Smithers, in assumed indignation. "I a swindler! Preposterous!"
"It's the plain truth, and there is no use of your denying it."