Part 11 (1/2)

Tom Shocker was well acquainted with the thoroughfares of Niagara Falls and it did not take him long to double on his tracks and return to Fargo's resort. He mounted the stairs, pulling his hat far down over his forehead as he did so. Then he tied his handkerchief over the lower portion of his face. He had the key of the room still in his possession, and with it he unlocked the door.

The light was still burning, and on the bed he could see Dave struggling to free himself of his bonds and of the pillow which still rested lightly over his head. Holding the pillow in place with one hand Shocker gained possession of the watch and chain and stickpin with the other. Then he took from Dave's pocket a small roll of bank-bills. He tried to appropriate the lad's ring, but could not get it off the finger.

Dave, finding himself being robbed, struggled harder than ever. But the bonds held and he was helpless to protect himself. In less than two minutes Tom Shocker accomplished his purpose, and then he glided out of the room silently, once more locking the door. Once on the street he set off on a brisk walk, but he did not go in the direction of the depot.

”I reckon I can afford to part company with Poole now,” the man told himself. ”Won't there be a row when that Porter gets free! But he can't blame me!” he added, with a chuckle.

Left once more to himself, Dave continued to struggle, and at last he managed to toss the pillow from his face. Then he breathed more freely, for which he was thankful.

”What a mean trick!” he murmured, as he saw that his watch was gone.

Presently he heard footsteps pa.s.sing along the hallway, and he uttered a call. The footsteps came to a stop.

”Come in here, please!” he called. ”I need help.”

”What's up?” asked somebody outside, and then the door was tried. Soon a key was inserted in the lock, the door was opened, and a chambermaid showed herself.

”Untie me at once!” cried Dave.

The maid turned up the gas and then uttered a cry of astonishment.

Without waiting to question the youth she flew out of the room and down the stairs, to return, a few minutes later, with a burly man.

”What's this mean?” asked the man, as he commenced to untie the ropes that held Dave.

”It's a trick that was played on me,” answered Dave, thinking rapidly.

He was on the point of stating that he had been robbed, but he did not wish to create too much of a scene. He felt sure that Nat would, sooner or later, return his belongings to him.

”A trick, eh?” said the hotel proprietor. ”Certainly a queer one. Where are the fellows who hired this room?”

”I don't know. They tied me fast and left.”

”Did you know them?”

”I knew one of them--he goes to boarding school with me.”

”Oh, I see, a schoolboy's trick, eh? You schoolboys are up to all sorts of pranks.”

”You don't know where they went to, do you?” questioned Dave, as he leaped up from the bed and stretched himself.

”No, I haven't the least idea. They hired this room for to-night, that's all.”

”I think I'll try to catch them,” said the youth. ”Much obliged for setting me free.”

”You are welcome. But say, I don't want any more skylarking around here,” added the proprietor of the resort, as Dave hurried out of the room and down the stairs.

He had found his hat on the floor, and, after brus.h.i.+ng up a little, he started on a brisk walk for the hotel where the others were to have dinner. He did not, of course, know the way, and so hired a newsboy for a dime to act as guide.

”Dave! you have been away a long time!” cried Laura, as he appeared. ”We have almost finished eating.”

”Never mind, I can get all I wish in a few minutes,” he answered.