“Ain't goin' to git away nohow!” exclaimed the countryman, and took hold of the swindler's throat.

“Le—let go!” came back in a gasp. “Don't—don't strangle me!”

When a policeman arrived the swindler was thoroughly cowed and he turned reproachfully to Josiah Bean.

“This isn't fair,” he said. “It was all a joke. I haven't got your money.”

“Yes, you have.”

“He is right, Mr. Bean,” put in Joe. “The money, I think, is in your side pocket.”

The countryman searched the pocket quickly and brought out a flat pocketbook.

“Hullo! this ain't mine!” he ejaculated.

He opened the pocketbook and inside were the twelve fifty-dollar bills.

“My money sure enough! How in the world did it git there?”