"It is my afternoon off."
They sat and chatted of Colorado, about which Rupert felt considerable curiosity. At the end of fifteen minutes their attention was drawn to a man of prosperous appearance who seemed in trouble. He paused as he reached their bench, and asked anxiously, "Has either of you seen a young man, nicely dressed and carrying a cane?" and he went on to describe Clarence Clayton.
"Yes," answered Packard and Rupert, simultaneously, "the fellow was sitting here less than half an hour since."
"He has stolen my gold watch," said the new acquaintance.
"He tried to sell it to me. He said it cost a hundred and fifty dollars."
"So it did, and more, too."
"He offered it for fifty dollars."
"How did it happen that you did not buy it?"
"I was about to do so, but this boy told me he was a confidence man."
"Then you knew him?" asked the stranger.