Now, as the Hardy boys noticed, the rug was gone.
"How much did you get for it?" asked Joe eagerly.
"I gave it away."
"Gave it away?" they exclaimed.
Mrs. Hardy nodded.
"Not intentionally. I've been cheated."
"How?" demanded Frank quickly.
Mrs. Hardy motioned toward the money.
"I've just been to the bank to deposit that money—"
"You don't mean to say it's counterfeit?"
"So the bank cashier told me."
Frank sat down heavily in the nearest chair.
"Well I'll be gosh-hanged!" he exclaimed. "How did this happen? How much did they sting you for?"
"Eight hundred dollars," answered Mrs. Hardy gravely.
Joe whistled in surprise.
"How did it happen?"
"He came here shortly after you boys left for school," began Mrs. Hardy. "It must have been a little before two o'clock."
"Who came here?"
"The rug buyer. He was a queer little fellow, very short and dark. He was a foreigner, you could tell by his appearance. He didn't speak very good English. He was dark and
