“Not more than I am to know you,” replied the man from the West. “You are a stranger to this town, I should judge.” “Yes, sir; I am from Chicago.” “You interest me. I am bound for that city myself. I expect to take the afternoon train for St. Louis, to connect with the Panhandle road.” “I intend to leave to-day for Chicago by the same route,” said Vance, pleased with the prospect of having so agreeable a companion. “I am delighted to hear it, my dear fellow,” answered the westerner, in a tone which indicated his satisfaction. “We will go together, if you have no objection.” “I shall be glad to have your society,” assented the boy. “Good. I was wondering how I would relieve the monotony of the trip. You have settled the matter in the way I should have preferred.” By this time they were several blocks from the scene of their thrilling adventure. “Where are you stopping?” asked the big fellow. “At the Planters’ House.” “Why, that’s where I have put up. If you don’t mind we’ll go there now. It is nearly lunch hour. Anyhow, I’d like to have a talk with you.” To this invitation Vance offered no objection, and ten minutes later they were ascending the hotel elevator together. CHAPTER IX. DAME FORTUNE TAKES VANCE THORNTON UNDER HER WING. “Well, Thornton, I trust that you and I will be good friends,” said Mr. Bradhurst, as he motioned Vance to a seat by the window after they had entered one of the best suites of rooms in the house. “I hope so, sir,” replied the boy in a cheery tone, which indicated that he saw no reason, at least on his part, why they should not. “It isn’t every one that I take a fancy to,” said the broad-shouldered man; “but I am bound to say that, even apart from the natural friendliness I feel toward one to whom I am so largely indebted as yourself, I have taken a liking to you on general principles.” “You are very kind to say so,” returned Vance; “I can say the same thing as regards yourself.” “Then we appear to be mutually pleased,” said Bradhurst with a breezy laugh. “The fact of the matter is, young man, I have lived for the last eight years in a sort of rough-and-ready community, where a man’s character comes to the surface without much effort on his part to hold it down. We soon learn to size up those with whom we are thrown into contact, and sift the honest fellow from the worthless scamp.” “You have lived in the mining districts, I suppose?” “You’ve hit it right at the first guess, though I hardly suppose I resemble a cowboy.” “No,” said Vance; “still, you could easily be taken for a prosperous ranch owner, or something of that sort.” “That’s right enough, too. I don’t look much as though I was afflicted with consumption, do I?” asked Bradhurst, with a smile. “Why, no,” replied the boy in a tone of surprise.