"The doctor must have fooled me!" he muttered impatiently, "or is there some secret drawer that I have overlooked?" This question he asked himself, but he was far from expecting an answer. "You have examined the cabinet pretty thoroughly Mr. Kirby," said a cool, calm voice. Kirby sprang to his feet in wild dismay. There, looking at him from the doorway, was Dr. Thorp, his host, whom he was conspiring to rob. "You are an early riser, are you not, Mr. Kirby?" said the doctor composedly. Kirby quickly decided upon his course. "Where am I?" he asked, passing his hand over his face in a bewildered way. "Where are you? Don't you recognize the room? A more pertinent query would be, 'What are you doing?'" "Good Heavens!" ejaculated Kirby—"I—I see it now. That unfortunate habit of walking in my sleep! What can you think of me?" "Do you generally carry skeleton keys about with you when you walk in your sleep, Mr. Kirby?" asked the doctor pointedly. "I—I really don't know how to explain," stammered Kirby. "These keys I found in my room on the morning after I was robbed. I took them with me, thinking they might be of use if I should lose my regular keys." "Very ingeniously explained, upon my word!" "It isn't possible, Dr. Thorp, that you really take me for a thief! I hope you have more confidence in me." "Well, it really did occur to me that you were a professional burglar. Your last words which I overheard before intruding upon you seem to bear out that supposition." "What were they?" "'_Is there some secret drawer that I have overlooked?_' Perhaps you will do me the favor to explain them." "I can't. They were spoken unconsciously, I assure you. This habit of walking in my sleep has got me into trouble several times before." "Then take my advice and discontinue it." "I will. I should have asked you to lock me in my chamber if I could have foreseen what has happened." "Mr. Kirby," said Dr. Thorp sternly, "you must think I am a simpleton to be taken in by such a transparent falsehood. I was deceived in you, I admit, but now I understand your real character. I won't have you arrested, though I ought, but I require you to leave my house at once." "In the middle of the night?" said Kirby in dismay. "Yes. I cannot agree to shelter you even for the balance of the night." "Tell me one thing," said Kirby, changing his tone; "did any one put you on your guard against me?" "Yes." "It was Dean Dunham." "You can form your own conclusions." "That is all you need tell me. I understand it all. I will go to my room and secure my luggage, and then bid you good-bye." "I will wait for you." "I owe you another debt, Dean Dunham!" said Kirby, as he left the house with the pleasant prospect of a sleepless night. CHAPTER XXVII. THE LONELY CABIN. Dean had left the breakfast-table the next morning, and was considering what would be the next stage of his journey when Dr. Thorp was announced.