"I don't know."
The boys wandered on, finding their pension without difficulty. Once in their own room, they sat down facing each other.
"This is a nice mess we're in, Sam."
"We've been in worse," answered the red-headed boy wisely.
"It is fortunate for us that we have paid our board."
"How about the return tickets? Have you lost those, too?"
Dan went through his pockets again. The more he searched, the more excited he grew.
"I—I——"
"Stung again?" jeered Sam Hickey. "Maybe I got touched for my money, but I didn't lose my tickets. You lost them both. But have you lost them?"
Dan nodded helplessly.