Leo the Circus Boy Part 16

"Let me go this time, squire," went on the man pleadingly.

"What for? So you can rob somebody else?"

"I ain't got a cent to my name, squire."

"I can't help that."

Suddenly a thought flashed over Squire Dobb's mind.

"Griswold, step into my office."

"Don't lock me up, squire."

"I won't-if you will do as I wish you to."

"I'll do anything you say, only don't arrest me again."

"Step into the office, and see to it that you don't wake up the whole household."

Hank Griswold complied. The squire followed him, still, however, keeping his pistol ready for use.

But when the office was reached, and the door shut, Nathan Dobb's manner changed. He took Griswold's hand.

"Griswold, you are just the man I want to see."

"I-I-don't understand," was the confused reply.

"I'll explain. Sit down and take it easy. You love to smoke? Have a cigar," and a box was shoved toward him.

"See here, Nathan Dobb, what's your game now?"

"I want to throw some work in your hands, work that will pay well."

"What kind of work?" asked Griswold suspiciously. He was half-inclined to believe Nathan Dobb was out of his mind.

"You just said you would do anything for me if I didn't have you arrested."

"So I will." "Supposing I put a job in your way that will pay you an even hundred dollars--"

"You're foolin' me, squire."

"I mean it, Griswold, a hundred dollars. Would you do the work and say nothing?"

"Yes."

"It's a-a-job that isn't strictly-ah-all right, you know."

"I don't care what it is," returned Griswold recklessly. "I'll do anything you say. You can trust me."

"Will you?" cried Nathan Dobb eagerly. He hesitated. "I want to get a boy out of my way."

"Who?"

"Leo Dunbar, who used to live with Dan Hawkins."

"I know him. Didn't his father once have my tavern shut up as a disorderly house?"

"Well, as I said, I want to get that boy out of my way."

"Where is he now?"

"He is traveling as an acrobat with that circus which performed here a week or so ago."

"And you want me to-to-?" Griswold hesitated.

"I want him removed from my path. I never want to see him around here again." "And you'll give me a hundred for the job?"

"I will."

"It's not enough. Make it two hundred."

"Well, I will."

"In cash?"

"Yes."

"When can I get the money?"

"You can get it right here as soon as-well, I'm sure Dunbar won't bother me any more."

"You're a cool one, Dobb. But I said I'd go you, and I will. But, say?"

"Well?"

"You must let me have fifty dollars on account. I'll have to hang around the circus for awhile and lay my plans. It's no fool of a job to do as you wish."

"Here are thirty dollars. And one word more, Hank. Never mention my name in this, and if I were you, don't ever let Leo Dunbar see you."

"I'll remember," replied Griswold.

Ten minutes later he left Nathan Dobb's house as secretly as he had entered it.

CHAPTER XII.-THE STOLEN CIRCUS TICKETS.