Part 18 (1/2)
”It's I--Mr. Waterbury.”
”Is it morning? Have we arrived?”
”No, it is about midnight.”
”Is there anything the matter?”
”I want you to see if you have been robbed.'”
Tom was broad awake in an instant.
”Robbed!” he exclaimed, in alarm. He felt for his belt and was relieved.
”No,” he answered. ”What makes you ask?”
”Because I have had a wallet taken. It makes me laugh when I think of it.”
”Makes you laugh!” repeated Tom, under the transient impression that his companion was insane. ”Why should you laugh at the loss of your money?”
”I saw the thief sneak out of the stateroom,” continued Mr. Waterbury; ”but I didn't interfere with him.”
”You didn't!” said Tom, completely mystified. ”I would. Did you see who it was?”
”Yes; it was your friend and late roommate.”
”Mr. Graham?”
”As he calls himself. I don't suppose he has any rightful claim to the name.”
”Surely, Mr. Waterbury, you are not going to let him keep the money,”
said Tom energetically; ”I'll go with you, and make him give it up.
Where is his stateroom?”
”Just opposite--No. 62.”
”We had better go at once,” said Tom, sitting up in his berth.
”Oh, no; he's welcome to all there is in the pocketbook.”
”Wasn't there anything in it?”
”It was stuffed full.”
Tom was more than ever convinced that his roommate was crazy. He had heard that misfortune sometimes affected a man's mind; and he was inclined to think that here was a case in point.
”You'll get it back,” said he soothingly. ”Graham can't get off the boat. We will report the matter to the captain.”
”I don't care whether I get it back or not,” said Mr. Waterbury.
Tom looked so confused and bewildered that his companion felt called upon to end the mystification.