CHAPTER XXVII. THE MYSTERIOUS PASSENGER IS DISCOVERED.
Bob Burton started on his trip down the river quite unaware that he carried a passenger; Clip's peculiar nervousness attracted his attention, and he wondered at it, but finally was led to attribute it to the whisky, of which he credited Clip with having drunk a considerable amount. We know that he was mistaken in this, but those who practice deception are apt to be misjudged, and have no right to complain.
One more discovery puzzled Bob. Clip happened to have a hole in the pocket in which he carried the money given him by the mysterious passenger. At first it was not large enough to imperil the safety of the coin; but Clip thrust his hand so often into his pocket, to see if the money was safe, that he had unconsciously enlarged the opening. As a result of this, as he was walking the deck, a two-dollar-and-a-half gold piece, obtained in change, slipped out, and fell upon the deck. Bob happened to be close at hand, and instantly espied the coin.
Clip walked on without noticing his loss.
Bob stooped and picked up the coin.
"A gold piece!" he thought, in amazement. "Where can Clip possibly have got it?"
He had not missed any of his own money. Indeed, he knew that none of it was in gold. Certainly the case looked very mysterious.
"Clip," he said.