The man glanced carelessly at our hero and then fell back as if he had received a shock. Then Robert uttered a cry of amazement. "You!" he gasped, and rushing forward caught the man by the arm. "Let go of me, young man!" cried the man savagely. "I will not," answered Robert firmly. "I know you, and I am going to hand you over to the police." At these words Mrs. Gibbs uttered a little shriek. "Oh, Mr. Frost, what can this mean?" she demanded. "It means that this man is a thief," declared Robert. "I met him in the post-office yesterday, where he saw me cash several money orders. After that he and a confederate robbed me of both money and my watch." At these words the face of Andy Cross--for it was really he--became a study. The sharper had not dared to go back to his former boarding house. He had calculated to find some new victim and to keep "shady" by pretending to be too ill to leave his room for several days. Now his little game was knocked completely in the head. "He is a thief?" ejaculated the landlady. "Oh, my! and to think I was going to take him in to board!" And the good old lady appeared ready to faint. "There is some strange mistake here," said Andy Cross. "Young man, how dare you call me a thief!" "I dare to because it is the truth." "Do you know who I am?" "You are what I just called you." "I have a strong inclination to knock you down, but I will try to curb my temper, as all Christian people should. I am Ralph Goodwill, the son of the Reverend Amos Goodwill, of Denver. I have come to Chicago to complete my studies for the ministry." "You'll have to turn over a new leaf before you become a minister," answered Robert. "Evidently you do not believe me." "Why should I? You are a thief, and you cannot humbug me into believing otherwise." "Mr. Frost, there may be some mistake," put in the landlady timidly. "There is no mistake, Mrs. Gibbs. Did you ever see a seminary student sporting such a suit of clothing." "Well--er--I don't know as to that." "The suit is one I picked up in the slums," said Andy Cross glibly. "I have been doing some work there, assisted by some Salvation Army people. You can work better among the poor, lost ones if you are dressed like them," he added softly. "Yes, yes, I presume that is so," said Mrs. Gibbs, who was somewhat interested in slum work herself. "He is an out and out fraud," said Robert, as firmly as ever. "Mrs. Gibbs, will you send Mary to call a policeman? I will be responsible for the arrest." "But if there is a mistake----" "Haven't I said that I will be responsible? I am not going to let him escape if I can help it." At that moment the front door opened, to admit one of the lady boarders. Robert stepped back to let her pass, and as he did so Andy Cross wrenched himself free and leaped for the door. "Stop!" cried Robert. "Stop!" "Go to blazes!" snarled the sharper, and pulling the door back, he leaped out on the piazza.