Conduct of life -- Fiction; Railroads -- Fiction; Swindlers and swindling -- Fiction
"The boy is up-stairs. The man left at six o'clock. He wanted to see
the Falls before taking an early train. He said the boy seemed very
nervous, and had a troubled sleep."
The detective nodded. "I think he must be the party I want."
"Why, what has happened?"
"The house of a wealthy old gentleman in Elmira was entered yesterday
afternoon, and articles of value taken. I received a telegram this
morning which should have reached me last night, asking me to be on the
watch for any suspicious parties."
"And you think the boy committed the burglary?" asked the clerk in
excitement.
"It looks like it. With your permission I will go up-stairs and take a
look at him."
CHAPTER XI.
FRED FALLS UNDER A TERRIBLE SUSPICION.
About ten minutes before the arrival of the detective Fred woke up. He
generally awoke earlier, but his long ride of the day before had
fatigued him more than usual. It was natural for him to glance over to
the opposite bed, occupied by his traveling companion. He was surprised
to find it empty.
"He must have got up early," thought Fred. "I wonder if he has gone for
good."
This seemed likely, for the stranger's valise had disappeared also.
"I wonder he didn't wake me up and bid me good-by," thought the train
boy.
Then a momentary suspicion led him to search for the hundred dollars in
gold which he had carefully concealed in his inside vest pocket. If
that were taken, he would be in a quandary, for there would be little
chance of his being able to make up the loss to his friend, the Western
miner.
He found, to his relief, that the gold had not been touched, and he
reproached himself for the injustice he had in his thoughts, done his
late room-mate.
"Well," soliloquized Fred, as he lazily got out of bed and drew on his
clothes, "I am not sorry to have the room alone. If I could have a
friend from home with me I should like it, but I don't care for the
company of a stranger."
Fred reflected that he had all the day to himself. He could hear the
roar of the famous cataract, which he had not yet seen on account of
his late arrival the night before, and he determined to go there
immediately after breakfast, or even before breakfast if he found that
it was quite near. He went to the window and looked out, but it was not
in sight.
"I may as well put on a clean shirt," thought Fred, and he went to the
table to open the bundle which he had brought from Jersey City. He had
just unfastened the string when a quick, imperative knock was heard at
the door of his room.
"Come in!" said Fred, with some surprise.
He turned his face to the door, and his wonder increased as it opened
and he saw the clerk and a stranger standing on the threshold. They
entered the room and closed the door behind them.
"What is the matter?" asked the train boy. "Has anything happened?"
"When did your room-mate leave?" asked the detective, not answering his
question.
"I don't know; I only just woke up."
"Did you rest well?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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