don't know
how much he lost. The Hop Toad and Dolphin mines aren't worth anything,
I'm afraid."

"Did youse lose two t'ousand dollars?" asked Tim, as the boys hurried
along the moonlit road.

"I'm afraid so."

"An' youse ain't agoin' to faint over it? Say, youse has got nerve,
youse has," added the newsboy, admiringly. "Youse oughter be in N' York.
How'd you come to put so much money in a fake mine?"

"I didn't know it was a fake," replied the wealthy youth.

The boys reached their hotel in the gray dawn of the early morning. They
were worn out and tired from their long tramp and the excitement of the
night. As they entered the lobby, where a sleepy clerk was on duty
behind the desk, the latter called to them:

"I say, is one of you named Dick Hamilton?"

"I am," replied the millionaire's son.

"Well, I've got a message for you from a lad named Simon Scardale."

"Simon Scardale?" repeated Dick.

"Yes. He was badly hurt last night by a fall from a horse he was riding.
He's over at the other hotel, and he sent word that he wanted to see
Dick Hamilton as soon as he came in. I looked over the register, but I
couldn't see anyone by that name, and I thought he'd made a mistake."

Dick recalled his scrawling signature on the book, and did not wonder
that the clerk could not make it out.

Telling Tim and Frank to go upstairs and notify Bricktop and Walter of
their safe arrival, Dick started for the Imperial Inn. He found the
night clerk on duty, and, telling his object, was shown upstairs by a
sleepy bell-boy.

As he entered the room he saw Simon in bed. The youth's face was pale,
and his head was covered with bandages. Two doctors were within call.

"Is that you, Dick Hamilton?" he asked in a weak voice.

"Yes. What do you want, Simon?" inquired Dick, softly, for the sight of
Simon's sufferings banished all resentment.

"I'm afraid I'm badly hurt," went on Simon, "and I want to tell you
something before--before I go away from here. Come closer."

"Now don't excite yourself," advised one of the doctors.

"I won't, but I must tell Dick," went on Simon. "I'm sorry I put up that
game to steal Grit," he said, almost in a whisper. "But I needed money
very much and I didn't see any other way to get it. Guy didn't have
anything to do with it."

"I know," said Dick, softly.

"I played another mean trick on you," went on the injured youth. "I've
been spying on you for Vanderhoof. After I got Grit and you saw me