you."

"I would feel more like calling, if I had a place," thought Sam,
soberly. "She's a bully girl and no mistake, but I wouldn't like to
take money from her. It's the first time I ever refused five dollars
that I can remember."

CHAPTER XXVI.

ABNER BLODGETT AGAIN.

The next day in his wanderings Sam entered the Parker House. He had no
definite object in view, but, feeling tired, thought he would sit down
a few minutes in the reading-room.

"This is where that fellow roped me in," he thought. "I wish I could
get hold of him."

After sitting for quarter of an hour, he strolled downstairs into the
billiard room. He stood on the threshold for a moment, when a familiar
voice struck his ear. His heart beat rapidly with excitement, for he
recognized it as the voice of Abner Blodgett. He glanced eagerly about
to find him, but he could see no one resembling the young man from the
country who had victimized him.

"I don't believe two voices can be so much alike," he said to himself.
"I must look more carefully."

The voice was heard again, and this time Sam perceived that the
speaker was playing billiards on the second table to the right. But it
did not appear to be Abner. His personal appearance was very
different, and he had a black mustache. But when Sam scanned the upper
part of the face, he saw a strong resemblance. He suspected the truth
at once, Abner was disguised.

"He's spending my money," said Sam to himself, indignantly. "No wonder
he can afford to play billiards when he gets his money so easy. I
won't lose sight of him."

By this time Abner--for it was he--had finished his game, and laid
down his cue. He had no money to pay, for he had beaten his adversary.
He sauntered up to the door, and was about to pass Sam, whom he had
not noticed, when our hero laid his hand upon his arm.

"I want to speak to you, Mr. Blodgett," he said, "on very particular
business."

Abner started when he recognized Sam, and changed color slightly, but
immediately his disguise occurred to him, and he decided to brazen it
out.

"Excuse me, sir," he answered, coolly. "Did you address me?"

He changed his voice as well as he could in uttering these words, and
this confirmed Sam's previous suspicion.

"I said I should like to speak to you on business, Mr. Blodgett," Sam
repeated, in an emphatic tone.

"You have made a mistake in the person," said Abner, shrugging his
shoulders. "My name is not Blodgett."

"And