“Anthony! Was it the morning I went off?”
Anthony hesitated; but the boy’s face showed that he had no suspicion that Anthony had for a while connected him with the missing article.
“Why, yes, it was,” replied Anthony.
“I thought so!” Jack cried. “I remember now that I saw a trampish-looking fellow on the street when I came from breakfast. I passed him. I didn’t pay much attention, though, because I was—feeling sort of knocked out. But once I heard a noise in the entry here while I was packing. I’ll bet it was the tramp. And I remember seeing your watch on the table in your room, Anthony, when I took that note in there, and—why, come to think of it, I put the note under the watch!”
“He followed you in, I guess,” said Anthony.
“That’s just what he did. And when I went out he was in your room, I’ll bet. And—and he took my money, too, don’t you suppose? I must have left it out somewhere!”
“That’s about what happened,” Anthony replied, grinning jovially. “I wish you could get your money back; but I guess that’s too much to hope for.”
“I suppose so. Oh, I don’t care now. But I am glad you’re going to recover your watch, Anthony. Wouldn’t it have been funny if I’d gone back into your room again and found him there?”
“Yes, but you might have got laid out!”
“Laid out nothing! I’ll bet I could have whipped that chap. And I would have saved your watch, and——”