CHAPTER XXVI.
ROBERT SPEAKS HIS MIND.
Robert waited for two days for a letter from Dick Marden. In the meantime he went down to the police station twice to learn if anything had been found out about Jim Huskin.
"We telegraphed to Muskegon and several other points," said the officer in charge. "But so far no one has seen the rascal."
In the evening mail of the second day came two letters for the boy, both of which he perused with great interest.
The first was from his mother, telling of the meeting with Livingston Palmer, and of what the would-be actor had told her.
"I am glad to hear that you have not suffered so far, Robert," she wrote. "But I am afraid that the fire may prove an unexpected set-back for you, and so I enclose twenty dollars, which may come in useful. So far I have received no letter from you, although Mr. Palmer says you have written. When you write again send it in care of the postmaster, and mark it for personal delivery only. Then I am sure Mr. Blarcomb will give it to me and to nobody else."
It may be imagined that Robert was indignant.
"I'll wager old Talbot stole that letter," he told himself. "And I guess mother thinks as much. Oh, what a mistake she made in marrying that man! I'll write her another letter this very night." And he did so, and posted it before retiring. In the communication he told her to beware of his step-father and not trust him in money matters, as she might be very sorry for it.