Chapter I: Front Matter

BOB BURTON;

OR,

THE YOUNG RANCHMAN OF THE MISSOURI

BY

HORATIO ALGER, JR.,

AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," "ATLANTIC SERIES," ETC.

PHILADELPHIA:

PORTER & COATES.

COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY PORTER & COATES.

TO

J. HENRY PLUMMER,

NOW OF TALLAPOOSA, GA.

FROM WHOM I HAVE RECEIVED VALUABLE ASSISTANCE IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS VOLUME,

IT IS DEDICATED WITH FRIENDLY REGARD.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I. MR. BURTON'S RANCH, 5

II. AARON WOLVERTON, 15

III. A LITTLE RETROSPECT, 23

IV. THE SUDDEN SUMMONS, 33

V. WOLVERTON'S FIRST MOVE, 42

VI. THE LOST RECEIPT, 51

VII. WOLVERTON'S ADVENTURE WITH CLIP, 60

VIII. WOLVERTON'S DISMAY, 69

IX. SAM'S GIFT, 77

X. SAM IN A TIGHT PLACE, 85

XI. AN ANGRY CONFERENCE, 94

XII. WOLVERTON'S WATERLOO, 104

XIII. WHAT BOB FOUND IN THE CREEK, 111

XIV. THE BOAT AND ITS OWNER, 120

XV. BOB BUYS THE FERRY-BOAT, 128

XVI. WOLVERTON'S BAFFLED SCHEME, 137

XVII. WOLVERTON'S POOR TENANT, 146

XVIII. WOLVERTON'S WICKED PLAN, 154

XIX. MR. WOLVERTON MEETS TWO CONGENIAL SPIRITS, 163

XX. AN UNEXPECTED PASSENGER, 172

XXI. HOW WOLVERTON WAS FOOLED, 180

XXII. THE FIRST DAY, 189

XXIII. A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER, 198

XXIV. CLIP MAKES A LITTLE MONEY FOR HIMSELF, 207

XXV. CLIP'S SECRET MISSION, 215

XXVI. WAS IT THE CAT? 224

XXVII. THE PASSENGER DISCOVERED, 233

XXVIII. SAM FINDS A RELATION, 243

XXIX. ROCKY CREEK LANDING, 251

XXX. AN UNLUCKY EVENING, 261

XXXI. HOW CLIP WAS CAPTURED, 269

XXXII. THE BOYS IMPRISONED, 277

XXXIII. A LUCKY ESCAPE, 289

XXXIV. MR. WOLVERTON'S LETTER, 297

XXXV. BOB'S ARRIVAL IN ST. LOUIS, 303

XXXVI. A THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD, 308

XXXVII. BROWN AND MINTON WALK INTO A TRAP, 312

XXXVIII. WHAT BOB BROUGHT HOME, 318

XXXIX. CONCLUSION, 324

BOB BURTON; OR, THE YOUNG RANCHMAN OF THE MISSOURI.