THE MISSING TIN BOX

OR

THE STOLEN RAILROAD BONDS.

BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

Author of "Schooldays of Fred Harley," "Poor but Plucky," "By Pluck, Not Luck," Etc., etc.

CHICAGO:
M. A. Donohue & Co.

Copyright, 1897.

BY W. L. Allison Co.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. The Missing Tin Box
CHAPTER II. A Brave Youth's Reward
CHAPTER III. A Serious Charge
CHAPTER IV. Hal Stands up for Himself
CHAPTER V. Hal Determines to Act
CHAPTER VI. A Blow in the Dark
CHAPTER VII. Hal Determines to Investigate
CHAPTER VIII. Felix Hardwick is astonished
CHAPTER IX. The Plot Against Hal
CHAPTER X. Hal is accused
CHAPTER XI. For and Against
CHAPTER XII. Hal in a Fearful Situation
CHAPTER XIII. Hal Shows His Mettle
CHAPTER XIV. Hal Expressed his Opinion
CHAPTER XV. Hal Defends a Girl
CHAPTER XVI. Hal on the Watch
CHAPTER XVII. Near to Death
CHAPTER XVIII. Hal in a Tight Situation
CHAPTER XIX. A Narrow Escape
CHAPTER XX. Following Allen
CHAPTER XXI. In a Dangerous Place
CHAPTER XXII. Hal Meets Laura Sumner
CHAPTER XXIII. Hal's Bold Scheme
CHAPTER XXIV. Hal in a New Role
CHAPTER XXV. Hal's Escape from Hardwick
CHAPTER XXVI. Hal Obtains Another Situation
CHAPTER XXVII. Hal Plays a Daring Part
CHAPTER XXVIII. Hal is Exposed
CHAPTER XXIX. Hal Makes a Lively Move
CHAPTER XXX. The Missing Tin Box
CHAPTER XXXI. Hardwick's Dash for Liberty
CHAPTER XXXII. A Surprising Revelation

THE MISSING TIN BOX.

CHAPTER I.

AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.

"What are the bonds worth, Allen?"

"Close on to eighty thousand dollars, Hardwick."

"Phew! as much as that?"

"Yes. The market has been going up since the first of December."

"How did he happen to get hold of them?"

"I don't know the particulars. Mr. Mason was an old friend of the family, and I presume he thought he could leave them in no better hands."

"And where are they now?"

"In his private safe."

"Humph!"

The conversation recorded above took place one evening on a Pennsylvania Railroad ferry-boat while the craft was making the trip from Jersey City to New York.

It was carried on between two men, both well dressed. He, called Allen, was a tall, sharp-nosed individual, probably fifty years of age. The other was a short, heavy-set fellow, wearing a black mustache, and having a peculiar scowl on his face.

They sat in the forward part of the gentlemen's cabin, which was but partly filled with passengers. Two seats on one side of them were vacant. On the other side sat a shabbily-dressed boy of sixteen, his hands clasped on his lap and his eyes closed.

"The safe is often left open during the day," resumed Allen, after a