Part 42 (1/2)
”I'll give you half.”
”But I shall be out of the city. I'll tell you what give me ten dollars, and I'll make it over to you.”
”That's rather steep,” said Andy.
”Heft it. There must be a lot of money inside.”
”I'm afraid the reward might be less than ten dollars,” said Andy.
”Well, I'm in a great hurry--give me five.”
It is possible that Andy, who was not acquainted with the ”drop game,”
might have agreed to this, but a policeman hove in sight, and the shabby individual scuttled away without further ceremony, leaving Andy a little surprised, with the pocketbook in his hand.
”What's he in such a hurry for?” thought our hero.
He opened the pocketbook, and a light flashed upon him, as he perceived that there was no money inside, but was stuffed with rolls of paper.
”He wanted to swindle me,” thought Andy. ”It's lucky I didn't pay him five dollars. Anyway, I'll keep it. The pocketbook is worth something.”
He put it in his pocket, without taking the trouble to remove the contents.
CHAPTER XXVIII THE GUEST OF TWO HOTELS
Andy wandered about till nine o'clock, determined to see as much of the 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 was seated 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 is new?”
”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 I don'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 was certainly entirely sincere in this wish, as the success of his plans depended on the soundness of our hero's repose.
Andy went upstairs, and lighted the gas in his bedroom. He noticed the door communicating with the next one, and tried it, but found it to be locked.
”That's all right,” said Andy. ”n.o.body can get in that way.”