It was not long before his attention was called to a smooth, plausible voice, proceeding from a person who sat two seats in advance of the one he occupied.
“My dear sir, if it will be any accommodation to you, I will myself buy your bond, and pay you the market price.”
There was something in the voice, and in the words, that attracted Harry’s attention and excited his suspicions.
“Excuse me a moment,” he said to the detective, and, passing through the aisle, reached a point where he could look back at the speaker.
He knew him at once, not only by his face, but by the profusion of rings upon his fingers. It was the same man that had cheated the poor farmer by giving him counterfeit money in payment for his coupons.
If, however, he had any doubt, it was set at rest by what followed.
“I don’t know,” said his seat companion, an industrious mechanic; “perhaps I’d better wait, and sell it in the city.”
“As you please, my friend,” said the young man. “I only made the proposal thinking I might accommodate you.”
“Is that your business—buying bonds?” asked the mechanic.
“In the city, yes. I am a member of the well-known firm of Chase & Atkins. Of course, you have heard of them.”