“Exactly,” said the officer in charge. “The two policemen who had the prisoner were set upon by two rascals, and in the mêlée to follow the prisoner got away.” This was the story told by the policemen, who had been negligent in their duty, although, in a way, they had done well to rescue the little children.
“It’s very strange,” said Frank to the boarding house mistress, as they walked away. “I didn’t know he had any accomplices.”
“Well, I have heard that swindlers often work in pairs, or in a crowd of three or four,” answered Mrs. Larkspur. “Perhaps the races attracted them.”
“That must be it,” answered Frank. “I’m going to watch the crowd coming from the races and see if I can learn anything.”
He did this, but his watching brought him no satisfaction. He spent the night at Mrs. Larkspur’s house.
“The contents of the trunks left here are of no value,” said the lady. “I doubt if he ever tries to claim his baggage.”
Frank had fairly good success in Goshen, and then returned to Middletown. Here, money seemed to be plentiful, and by good luck he took orders for three sets of famous authors in one day.
“That is what I call business,” he thought. “If I could keep up such a record, I’d be making money hand over fist.”
While in Middletown, the young book agent had one experience which was amusing in the extreme. He called on an old gentleman, who seemed to be much pleased to see him.
“I would like to show you a set of famous novels,” said our hero, and brought forth his sample book.