"San Francisco is a mighty rich place," continued Tom. "They are too rich even to use pennies. It's five cents here, or a bit there, or two bits for this and two bits for that. I never heard a quarter called two bits in New York." "I've been told that is a Southern expression, and one used in the West Indies," said Dick. "The early Californians--My gracious!" Dick broke off short and leaned far out of the window, which they had opened to let in the fresh spring air. "What's up?" queried Tom. "Don't fall out." And he caught his elder brother by the arm. "I must have been mistaken. But it did look like him," said Dick slowly. "Look like whom?" asked Sam, joining the pair. "Dan Baxter." "Dan Baxter! Here?" shouted the others. "I am pretty sure it was Dan Baxter." "Where is he?" asked Tom. "He is gone now--he just disappeared around the hotel corner." "Well, if it really was Dan Baxter, we want to keep our eyes open," was Sam's comment. CHAPTER II THE TURNING UP OF DAN BAXTER The boys were very curious concerning their old enemy, and on going below took a walk around several squares in the vicinity, in the hope of meeting the individual who had attracted Dick's attention. But the search proved unsuccessful, and they returned to the hotel and went to dinner, with a larger appetite than ever. "It would be queer if we met Dan Baxter out here," said Tom, while they were eating. "He seems to get on our heels, no matter where we go. "If he came to San Francisco first, he'll think we have been following him up," said Sam. "He must have come here before we did," said Dick. "Our arrival dates back but three hours," and he grinned. The meal over the boys took it easy for a couple of hours, and then prepared to go out and visit half a dozen points of interest and also purchase tickets for a performance at one of the leading theaters in the evening. As they crossed the lobby of the hotel they almost ran into a big, burly young fellow who was coming in the opposite direction. "Dan Baxter!" ejaculated Dick. "Then I was right after all." The burly young fellow stared first at Dick and then the others in blank amazement. He carried a dress-suit case, and this dropped from his hand to the floor. "Whe--where did yo--you come from?" he stammered at last. "I guess we can ask the same question," said Tom coldly. "Been following me, have you?" sneered Dan Baxter, making an effort to recover his self-possession. "No, we haven't been following you," said Sam. "Supposing you tell us how it happens that you are here?" "Suppose you tell us how it happens that you are here," came from Dick. "That is my business." "Our business is our own, too, Dan Baxter." "You followed me," growled the big bully, his face darkening. "I know you and don't you forget it." "Why should we follow you?" said Tom. "We got the best of you over that treasure in the Adirondacks."