"No, not in the least."
"Then——" And Nick Smithers paused questioningly.
"I—I—perhaps I had better tell my story," faltered the young lady. "I need a confidant, and I need advice. Can I trust you, sir?"
"You assuredly can," said the swindler, instantly. "If I can be of any service whatever to you, command me."
The young lady glanced around shyly, to see that no other passengers were near.
"I presume I shall have to tell my whole story," went on the young lady. "It is rather long."
"Never mind—we have plenty of time," answered Nick Smithers.
"My father died when I, his only child, was very young. My mother was already dead. My father left a large fortune, estimated at that time, at about a hundred thousand dollars."
"That's some money," thought the swindler. "I hope she has some of it with her."
"Of course, it was necessary to leave me in charge of someone. For this trust my father's brother was selected. He was poor, never having met with the worldly success that crowned my father's efforts. The allowance he received for caring for me and my inheritance was liberal. Shortly after my father died my uncle moved to the town where I boarded the train, living in a house which was a part of my father's estate."