Arousing the night clerk, Plumbo begged to be directed to Dr. Perkins’ room. The night clerk knew the eccentric character, and lost no time in escorting him to the doctor’s quarters. Plumbo thundered on the door with noise sufficient to arouse the other guests.
“What is it? What’s happened?” shouted Dr. Perkins, thinking for an instant that the place must be on fire at least.
“Oh, doctor, come quick! They’ve played us a trick!” yelled Plumbo.
“Who? Where? What do you mean?” exclaimed Dr. Perkins, coming to the door.
“Two men and a lad; they’ve fooled me bad.”
“Do you mean that they persuaded you to leave the Sea Eagle alone and unguarded?”
“They told me a story to get me from there; or I’d have given your air ship the best of good care,” pleaded Plumbo, seriously alarmed at the angry look that had come over the doctor’s face. “Don’t be angry with me, I pray; if they hurt it I’ll ask you no pay.”
“As if that would help,” cried Dr. Perkins angrily; “wait there till I get some clothes on.”
He retreated into the room and as he hastily donned some garments he wondered who the men could be who had induced the soft-witted poet to leave his position of trust.
“For the life of me I can’t imagine who they can be,” he was thinking, while he hurriedly laced his shoes, when the door opened and in walked Harry fully dressed.