"I didn't leave the key there," came from Tom. "Here it is," and he brought it out of his pocket. "I meant to leave it at the desk, but it slipped my mind."
Dick found the door open and walked into the room, followed by his brothers. Baxter had extinguished the gas and they stood in the dark until Sam found a match and lit up. Then a cry went up from all three:
"We have been robbed!"
"This is some sneak thief's work," came from Dick. "Run down and tell the hotel clerk at once."
Tom bolted from the room and went down the stairs three steps at a time. The clerk sat dozing in his chair and was roused up with difficulty. But as soon as he realized that something was wrong he was wide-awake.
"A robbery, eh?" he queried. "What have you lost?"
"We've got to find that out," answered Tom.
In less than a quarter of an hour they knew the extent of their loss—three diamonds and a pair of cuff buttons, in all worth over two hundred dollars, and two hundred and seventy-five dollars in cash—not to mention a ruined valise and one missing, and the loss of a light overcoat, some silk handkerchiefs and some underwear.
"A total loss of over five hundred dollars," said Tom.
At this the hotel clerk gave a long whistle. "As much as that?"