CHAPTER XVII
SUBTLE FLATTERY.
The two boys reached their boarding house as the clock struck twelve.
“The best thing we can do is to get to bed as soon as possible,” said Sam, as they entered the room and locked the door.
“You might as well pay me what you owe me,” suggested Joshua, who did not intend Sam to forget his indebtedness.
“Oh, yes!” said Sam. “Let me find my pocketbook.”
He felt in the pocket of his “other pants,” but of course did not find what was not there. To let the reader into a secret, he had, before leaving for the theatre, carefully locked it up in his trunk, where it was even now, as he very well knew.
“By Jove!” he exclaimed, whistling, as he withdrew his hand, empty.
“What’s the matter?” inquired Joshua, anxiously.
“My pocketbook isn’t there!”