Part 15 (1/2)
”Sure I did.”
”Where did he go?”
”Wot will yer give me if I tell yer?” asked the newsboy shrewdly.
”Five cents.”
”All right, hand over de nickel.”
”Here it is,” and d.i.c.k showed the money in his hand. ”Now where was it?”
”He went in de Sunrise Hotel, down dare. I watched him run in.”
”What kind of a hat did he have on?”
”A soft hat wid a big knock in one side.”
”And you are sure he went in that hotel?”
”Cross me heart, mister. I watched him, cos he was out o' breath, an' I knowed he was up to som't'in'.”
”Here is your money,” answered d.i.c.k, and pa.s.sed the nickel over. Then he walked to the hotel and paused on the sidewalk to look the place over before entering.
CHAPTER X
d.i.c.k BECOMES A PRISONER
The Sunrise Hotel had seen better days. It was a five-story brick building, blackened by age and had numerous small windows, down in front of which ran an iron fire escape. The lower floor was used as a drinking place, to one side of which ran a narrow stairs, leading to an office and a parlor above.
Looking in over the short doors of the drinking place, d.i.c.k saw that Cuffer was not there. He rightly surmised that the fellow had gone upstairs, to a room he was occupying.
”Perhaps that fellow Sh.e.l.ley is with him,” mused d.i.c.k. ”If so, I'd like to collar them both.”
Several men were coming and going and n.o.body paid particular attention to the youth until he gained the dingy office, where two men were smoking and talking over the merits of some race horses.
”What can I do for you?” asked one of the men abruptly, as d.i.c.k looked around.
”Is a man named Cuffer stopping here?”
The hotel clerk shook his head.
”Perhaps I have the name wrong. I mean a man who came in a minute or two ago--fellow with a soft hat, knocked in on the side.”
”Oh, that chap! Yes, he's here--room eighteen, next floor,” and the clerk pointed up the stairs, for the hotel had no elevator.
d.i.c.k walked up the stairs slowly, revolving in his mind what he should do if he met Cuffer face to face. If he had the man arrested it might lead to legal complications, and the voyage in search of Treasure Isle might be delayed. It would be hard to prove that the rascal had done any actual wrong.
Reaching the upper hallway, d.i.c.k looked at the dingy numbers on the still more dingy doors. Eighteen proved to be at the rear, where it was so dark he could scarcely see.