"Well that beats me, it beats anything I ever heard. See here, stranger, you are making a fool of me with a big fish story because I am a green Western man, born and raised on the prairie." "No, I've told you the truth." "Well, well, you come from the city?" "No, I am going to the city." "New York?" "Yes." "Is that your home?" "Well, _New York lies near where_ I live." "Dear me, what wonderful sights you have seen!" "Yes, sir." "That New York is a wonderful place." "You bet it is." "I am going there some day--yes, I've said I'd see New York some day and I will. It must make a man blind for a few days to go around there." "Well, yes, it is rather dazzling," said Desmond. So the conversation continued for quite a time and finally the stranger rose and went away, saying he would return immediately. Quite a respectable-looking man took the vacated seat beside Desmond, and the last neighbor asked: "Do you know that green-looking chap who was just talking to you?" "No, sir, I never saw him before." "Then you don't know who he is?" "No, sir." "That is a son of Senator F----, the richest mine owner out in this section; he looks like a countryman. You see he was raised in the West, but he is one of the most honest and good-hearted fellows in the world, liberal to a fault, fond of fun, but a good and true friend to any one." Desmond studied the man who was giving him this unsolicited information, and he concluded that the nice-looking man was sharp number two; he was up to this sort of business and perceived the whole game. "Yes, he appears like a good, honest fellow," said Desmond. "Honest? why, you could trust him with all you had in the world." "Yes, he looks that." "He is one of the kindest-hearted fellows in the world. I tell you if you get into trouble he is the man to aid you. He is the best pistol shot and rifle shot in the land. Why, that fellow has fought off a whole tribe of Indians. The redskins fear him as a white man fears the devil, and his father is one of the richest men out in this section, as I told you." "Yes. He don't look like a millionaire's son." "No, but he is all the same, and he appears to have taken a great fancy to you. I was watching him while he talked to you; I tell you no one will interfere with you anywhere in this land if they know that he is your friend." "That's good." "Yes. He is a splendid fellow." The man who had volunteered all this information walked into a forward car, and a few moments later the senator's son, so-called, returned, and as frequently occurs in far Western trains, the particular car in which Desmond was riding was deserted. Our hero and the countryman had the car all to themselves, and after a little further talk the senator's son said: "I wish some greeny would come in here, we'd have some fun." "How?" "I'll tell you, I am a regular juggler; I know all the tricks of gamblers and I'd fool a fellow." "Do you know all the tricks of gamblers?"