He handed the bill back to Frank, then indicated the package on the counter. "What are you going to do about the plates?" he asked. "Have you any other money besides that bill?" "Not a nickel," said Joe. "At least, not enough to pay for the plates. But do you really think the bill is no good?" "I've handled a lot of them. It doesn't look good to me. I tell you what you'd better do. Take it over to the bank across the street and ask the cashier what he thinks of it." The boys looked at one another in dismay. It had never occurred to them that there might be anything wrong with the money. Now it dawned on them that there had been something suspicious about the affable stranger's request. Had they really been victimized? "We'll do that," agreed Frank. "Come on, Joe. Keep those plates for us, Mr. Moss. If the bill is bad we'll be back with some real money later on." They crossed the street to the bank and went up to the cashier's cage. They knew the cashier well and he smiled at them as Frank pushed the five dollar bill under the grating. "Want it changed?" he asked. "We want to know if it's good, first." The cashier, a sharp-featured, elderly man with spectacles, then took a sharp glance at the bill. He pursed up his lips as he felt the texture of the paper. Then he flicked the bill across to them again. "Sorry," he said. "You've been stung, boys. It's counterfeit." "Counterfeit!" exclaimed Frank. "You aren't the first one who has been fooled. There's been a lot of counterfeit money going around the past few days. It's very cleverly done and it's apt to fool any one who isn't used to handling a lot of bills. Where did you get it?" "A fellow got off the train and asked us to change it for him." The cashier nodded. "And by now he is miles away, probably getting ready to work the same trick at the next station. I guess you'll have to pocket your loss, boys. It's tough luck." CHAPTER II COUNTERFEIT MONEY The Hardy boys left the bank, feeling at once foolish and wrathful. "Stung!" declared Frank. "Stung by a counterfeit bill! Oh, if the fellows hear of this we'll never hear the end of it!" "What a fine pair of greenhorns we must have looked to that slick stranger! I'd like to lay my hands on him for about five seconds. I'll bet he's been laughing to himself ever since about how easily we were fooled." "I'll say we were easy. We hadn't a suspicion in the world." "After all," Joe remarked, "that bill might have fooled any one. You can't deny that it looks mighty like a real five." They halted on the corner and again examined the money. Only an experienced eye could have detected any difference between the counterfeit bill and a genuine one. It was crisp and new and appeared in every respect identical with any bona fide five dollar bill that had ever been legitimately issued by the Federal Government.