"Then you come with me."
At this the tough grew alarmed, and at last he broke down and confessed that he had got the check for another party who had given him five dollars for it. He had part of the five dollars left, and out of this he gave Robert a sum equal to that which had been stolen.
"Who took that check?" demanded our hero, a sudden suspicion crossing his mind.
As well as he was able Pat described Hammerditch.
"He's goin' ter git sumthin' on de check," he added.
"Not if I can prevent it," answered Robert. "He wants to steal my valise. You come with me."
"I aint goin' ter!" roared Pat, and breaking away, he started on a clumsy run. Robert could readily have caught him, but concluded not to waste the time.
"Hammerditch will be hot-footed after my bag," he thought. "He expects to get that map."
He looked around, and espying a hack standing near, leaped in, and ordered the driver to get him to the depot with all possible speed.
Pat ran for fully six blocks, and then sank down on a pile of lumber, panting for breath.