"Yes, I will," said Ferguson, after a momentary pause. "I have a boy of my own about the age of--the young burglar--and that perhaps inclines me to be more indulgent. But you must wait till after dinner." "Will dinner be sent up here?" asked Frank. "Yes, for him; but you are not staying at the house." "I forgot; and I haven't got money enough to pay for a hotel dinner." "That's all right, Frank," said Fred. "I invite you to dine with me, and it shall be charged on my bill. I shall enjoy dinner better if I have company." "Thank you. I accept the invitation, but I don't like to be an expense to you." "Never mind." Dinner was sent up in the course of half an hour, and the two boys enjoyed it. "Are you still attending school, Frank?" asked Fred. "Yes." "I should like to, but poor boys like me have to work for a living." "If you won't tell I will let you into a secret." "What is it?" "I am writing a long story. I want to be an author some time. I've written twenty chapters already." "You must be smart," said Fred in surprise. "Why, I couldn't write as much in a whole year." "Of course I can't tell whether it is good for anything, but some time I mean to write well." "Well, Frank, I wish you success, I am sure. Some day I may be proud to know you." "Now I might write a story about you, and call it 'The Boy Burglar.'" "Don't! I have no wish to figure in that character." Half an hour later the door opened, and the detective entered, dressed for a walk. "Now, if you two burglars are ready," he said, "we will take a stroll." CHAPTER XIII. THE HOTEL CLERK'S MISTAKE. "What was the name of your room-mate, Fred?" asked Frank Hamblin, as they went down-stairs. "I didn't notice. He registered before me." "Suppose we look and see. It may be well to know." They opened the hotel register, and saw written in a bold, free hand: "F. GRANT PALMER, CHICAGO." "It may be another Fred," suggested Frank. "Or Frank. Either name would do for a burglar," said Mr. Ferguson, smiling. "But it is hardly consistent with professional etiquette to joke on such a subject. I will endeavor to forget while we are walking together that one of the party is an offender against the laws, or under suspicion as such." "I want to forget it myself," said Fred, "or it will spoil my enjoyment of Niagara." "I wonder where Mr. F. Grant Palmer is now," said Frank. "I feel sure he is the real burglar." "Then he has probably gone over into Canada," returned Fred. "It is unlucky for me that he left the watch and chain, but lucky for Mr. Carver, who will now recover them." Meanwhile let us follow Mr. Palmer, whose movements are of interest to us in connection with the suspicion he has managed to throw on Fred. When he left the Lynch House he proposed, as a measure of safety, to go over to the Canada side, and indeed he did so. He made his way to the Clifton House, and registered there, depositing his valise at the office while he went in to breakfast.