CHAPTER XXVIIITHE GUEST OF TWO HOTELS
Andy wandered about till nine o'clock, determined to see as much ofthe city as possible in the limited time which he had at his disposal;but at last he became tired, and returned to the hotel. Fairfax wasseated in the reading-room. He looked up as Andy entered.
"Have you been looking around the city?" he asked.
"Yes," said Andy; "I wanted to improve my time."
"I suppose, as this is your first visit, you see a good deal that isnew?"
"It's all new," said Andy. "I feel tired, walking around so much."
"No doubt. Are you going to bed now?"
"I guess I'll turn in."
"I shan't go up quite yet. I have been staying here quietly, and Idon't feel tired. I shall go up in the course of an hour or two."
"Good-night, then," said Andy.
"Good-night. I hope you'll sleep sound," said Fairfax, who wascertainly entirely sincere in this wish, as the success of his plansdepended on the soundness of our hero's repose.
Andy went upstairs, and lighted the gas in his bedroom. He noticed thedoor communicating with the next one, and tried it, but found it to belocked.
"That's all right," said Andy. "Nobody can get in that way."
He locked the principal door, and bolted it, also, which seemed tomake him perfectly secure.
"Now," thought he, after undressing, "where shall I put the money?"
This was an important question, as he had between five hundred and athousand dollars belonging to the Misses Grant, of which it was hisduty to take even more care than if it belonged to himself.
"I guess I'll put it under the bolster," he reflected, "covering it upwith the sheet. Nobody can get in, that I can see, but it is best tobe careful."
In emptying his pockets, he came across the pocketbook, with its shamcontents, of which mention has already been made.
"I'll leave that in my pocket," he said to himself, with a smile. "I'mnot afraid of losing that. By the powers, it wouldn't be much of aprize to the man that took it; I'm sure of that."
He laid his clothes on a chair, in the middle of the room, and jumpedinto bed, when he soon sank into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Fairfax remained below in the reading-room. He was not atall sleepy, as he had told Andy, and his mind was full of the schemeof robbery, which appeared so promising. He was glad Andy had retiredso early, as he would be asleep sooner, and this would make thingsfavorable for his entering his young companion's chamber. It was hisintention, after he had secured the "plunder"--to adopt a Westernphrase--to come downstairs and leave the hotel, not to return, asotherwise, as soon as Andy should discover his loss, the door betweenthe two rooms would, naturally, point to him as the thief.
He didn't go up to his room till half-past ten. This was an hour and ahalf later than Andy retired, and would give him a chance to get fastasleep.
"He must be asleep now," he thought.
On reaching the corridor on which both of the chambers were situated,he stood a moment before Andy's door, and listened. It was not oftenthat our young hero was guilty of snoring, but to-night he was weary,and had begun to indulge in this nocturnal disturbance. The soundswhich he heard were very satisfactory to Fairfax.
"The boy's fast asleep," he muttered. "I'll go into his room, and makequick work of it. Fairfax, you're in luck, for once. Fortune has takena turn."
Softly he opened the door of his own room, and entered. He lit thegas, and then, going to the door of communication between the tworooms, he listened again. There was no cessation of the sounds whichhe had heard from the outside. He determined to make the attempt atonce. Taking the proper key from his pocket, he fitted it into thelock, and, turning it, the door opened, and he stepped into theadjoining apartment. It was dark, for Andy had extinguished the gas ongoing to bed, but the gas from his own room made it sufficiently lightfor his purpose. He at once caught sight of Andy's clothes lying onthe chair, where he had placed them. He glanced cautiously at ourhero, as he lay extended upon the bed, with one arm flung out, but hesaw no reason for alarm. Quickly he glided to the chair with noiselessstep (he had removed his boots, by way of precaution), and thrust hishand into the pocket of the coat. It came in contact with the falsepocketbook, which seemed bulky and full of money. Fairfax neverdoubted that it was the right one, and quickly thrust it into his ownpocket. Just then Andy moved a little in bed, and Fairfax retreated,hastily, through the door, closing it after him.
"Now, the sooner I get out of this hotel, the better!" he thought."The boy may wake and discover his loss. It isn't likely, but it mayhappen. At any rate it's very much better to be on the safe side."
He did not stop to examine the prize which he had secured. He had nodoubt whatever that it contained the money he was after. To stop tocount it might involve him in peril. He, therefore, put on his boots,and glided out of the chamber and downstairs.
To the clerk who was at the desk he said, as he surrendered his key:
"How late do you keep open? Till after midnight?"
"Certainly," was the reply.
"All right. I may be out till late."
He left the key, and went out into the street. He hailed a passing carin Tremont Street, and rode for some distance. In Court Street he goton board a Charlestown car, and in half an hour found himself in thecity everywhere known by the granite shaft that commemorates thebattle of Bunker Hill. He made his way to a hotel, where he took aroom, entering here under the name of James Simmons, Portsmouth, NewHampshire. Anxious to examine his prize, he desired to be shown atonce to a chamber. He followed the servant who conducted him withimpatient steps. The stolen money was burning in his pocket. He wantedto know how much he had, and was more than half resolved to take anearly train the next morning for the West, where he thought he shouldbe secure from discovery.
"Is there anything wanted, sir?" asked the servant, lingering at thedoor.
"No, no," said Fairfax, impatiently. "It's all right."
"Might be a little more polite," muttered the snubbed servant, as hewent downstairs.
"Now for it!" exclaimed Fairfax, exultingly. "Now, let me see how muchI have got."
He drew the pocketbook from his pocket, and opened it. His heart gavea quick thump, and he turned ashy pale, as his glance rested upon theworthless roll of brown paper with which it had been stuffed.
"Curse the boy!" he cried, in fierce and bitter disappointment. "Hehas fooled me, after all! Why didn't I stop long enough to open thepocketbook before I came away? Blind, stupid fool that I was! I am asbadly off as before--nay, worse, for I have exposed myself tosuspicion, and haven't got a penny to show for it."
I will not dwell upon his bitter self-reproaches, and, above all, theintense mortification he felt at having been so completely fooled by aboy, whom he had despised as verdant and inexperienced in the ways ofthe, world--to think that success had been in his grasp, and he hadmissed it, after all, was certainly disagreeable enough. It occurredto him that he might go back to the Adams House even now, and repairhis blunder. It was not likely that Andy was awake yet. He was veryweary, and boys of his age were likely, unless disturbed, to sleepthrough the night. He might retrieve his error, and no one would bethe wiser.
"I'll do it," he said, at length.
He went downstairs, and left the hotel without the knowledge of theclerk. Jumping into the horse-cars, he returned to Boston, and enteredthe Adams House about half-past twelve o'clock. He claimed his key atthe desk, and went upstairs to his room. He had scarcely lit the gas,however, when a knock was heard at the door. Opening itunsuspiciously, he turned pale, as he recognized the clerk, in companywith an officer of the law.
"What's wanted?" he faltered.
"You are wanted," was the brief reply.
"What for?" he gasped.
"You are charged with entering the adjoining room, and stealing apocketbook from the boy who sleeps there."
"It's a lie!" he said, but his tone was nervous.
"You must subm
it to a search," said the officer.
"Do you mean to insult me?" demanded Fairfax, assuming an air ofoutraged virtue.
"Not at all. I am only giving you a chance to clear yourself fromsuspicion."
"I am a respectable merchant from Portland. I was never so insulted inmy life," said Fairfax.
"If the charge proves groundless, I will make you an ample apology,"said the officer.
Fairfax was compelled to submit to the search. He cursed his stupidityin not throwing away the worthless pocketbook, but this he hadneglected to do, and, of course, it was very significant evidenceagainst him. Not only was this found, but the variety of keys alreadyreferred to.
"You carry a great many keys," said the officer.
"It isn't a crime to carry keys, is it?" demanded Fairfax, sullenly.
"Not if no improper use is made of them. I suspect that one of themwill open the door into the next chamber."
The keys were tried, and one did open the door. As the light flashedinto the room, Andy got up.
"Come here, young man," said the officer. "Can you identify thatpocketbook?"
"I can," said Andy.
"Is it yours?"
"When I went to bed, it was in the pocket of my coat, lying on thatchair."
"It is certainly a wonderful pocketbook. I have just found it in thatgentleman's pocket."
Fairfax's eyes were bent malignantly upon Andy. A light flashed uponhim. Now, he recognized him.
"I know you," he said. "You are the man that stopped Colonel Preston,and tried to rob him."
"You lie, curse you!" exclaimed Fairfax, springing forward, and tryingto throw himself upon Andy. But he was not quick enough. The officerhad interposed, and seized him by the collar.
"Not so fast, Mr. Marvin, or whatever your name is. We don't allow anysuch games as that. Sit down till I want you."
The baffled adventurer was jerked into a chair, from which hecontinued to eye Andy savagely.
"What's that affair you were talking about, young man?" asked theofficer.
Andy briefly related his adventure with Fairfax on a former occasion.
"I'll trouble you to come with me, Mr. Marvin, or Fairfax," said theofficer. "There's another hotel where lodgings are provided for suchas you."
Resistance was useless, and the detected thief, though his name wasregistered at two hotels, was compelled to occupy a less agreeableroom at the station-house. How he was detected will be explained inthe next chapter.