dollars it was, and I hadn't justly made up my mind what bank to put
it into, when a chap came up in a terrible hurry, and said it was
very unfortunate, but the bank wasn't open, and he must have some
money right off. He was obliged to go out of the city by the next
train. I asked him how much he wanted. He said fifty dollars. I told
him I'd got that, and he offered me a check on the bank for sixty,
and I let him have it. I thought that was a pretty easy way to earn
ten dollars, so I counted out the money and he went off. He told
me I'd hear a bell ring when they began to pay out money. But I've
waited most two hours, and I haint heard it yet. I'd ought to be
goin', for I told dad I'd be home to-night. Do you think I can get
the money now?"

"Will you show me the check?" asked Frank, who had listened
attentively to the countryman's story, and suspected that he had
been made the victim of a swindler. It was made out upon the
"Washington Bank," in the sum of sixty dollars, and was signed
"Ephraim Smith."

"Washington Bank!" repeated Frank. "Dick, is there such a bank in
the city?"

"Not as I knows on," said Dick. "Leastways I don't own any shares
in it."

"Aint this the Washington Bank?" asked the countryman, pointing to
the building on the steps of which the three were now standing.

"No, it's the Custom House."