"Thank you; but I don't carry a watch," was the boy's polite reply.
"You will one of these days. Better have one."
"If I need one I'll call around," replied Richard briefly.
The idea of a safeguard caused him to feel in his pockets to see that his belongings were still in his possession, first in one—another—every one.
Then he realized what had happened. He had been robbed.
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE SEARCH.
Richard was dismayed and disheartened by the discovery which he had just made. He went through his clothing a dozen times to convince himself that he was not mistaken—that the slip, money and letters were really gone. But it was assuredly a fact, and groaning in spirit, he leaned up against a post, utterly overcome.
To tell the truth, however, much as he needed money, he did not think of the bills that had been taken. His mind ran altogether on Doc Linyard's property.
"What will he say when I tell him of it?" was Richard's mental comment. "He won't want to trust me any more. Perhaps those letters were worth hundreds of dollars. What a fool I've been! I ought to be sent back to Mossvale at once. I'm not fit to stay in New York."