? ? ? ? He had no sooner disappeared than Rodney went forward and occupied his seat.
? ? ? ? "Excuse me, sir," he said to the miner, "but do you know much of the man who has just left you?"
? ? ? ? "I only met him here. He seems a good natured fellow. What of him?"
? ? ? ? "He said he was a man of independent means."
? ? ? ? "Isn't he?"
? ? ? ? "He is a thief and an adventurer."
? ? ? ? The miner was instantly on the alert.
? ? ? ? "How do you know this?" he asked.
? ? ? ? "Because he stole a box of jewelry from me in the cars some months ago."
? ? ? ? "Did you get it again?"
? ? ? ? "Yes; he left the train, but I followed him up and reclaimed the jewelry."
? ? ? ? "Was it of much value?"
? ? ? ? "They were family jewels, and were worth over a thousand dollars."
? ? ? ? "Do you think he wants to bunco me?"
? ? ? ? "I have no doubt of it."
? ? ? ? "I have given him money to buy theater tickets. Do you think he will come back?"
? ? ? ? "Yes.
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