The Rover Boys on Land and Sea | Page 5

Dan Baxter had followed the boys from the hotel to the theater and had
also waited around for them to come out. He wanted to "square up"
with them, but had no definite plan of action, and was trusting to luck
for something to turn up in his favor.
He had drifted to the West for a double reason. The one was, as the
boys had surmised, because the East seemed to be getting too hot to
hold him. His second reason was that he hoped to get passage on some
vessel bound for Sydney, Australia. He had a distant relative in
Australia, and thought that if he could only see that relative personally
he might be able to get some money. He was nearly out of funds, and
so far the relative, although rich, had refused to send any money by
mail or express.
"They have everything they want, while I have nothing," he went on
savagely. "And they don't deserve it, either. Oh, how I wish I could
wring their necks for 'em!"
Suddenly an idea struck him and without waiting for the boys to come
out of the restaurant he hopped on board of a street car running in the
direction of the Oakland House. Entering the hotel office he asked to
look at the register.

"Room 324," he said to himself. "That is on the third floor, I suppose,
since they generally start a new hundred for every floor. Wonder if I
can get up without being noticed?"
He watched his chance, and slipping past the bell boys, made his way
up the stairs, which, on account of the elevators, were but little used. In
a few minutes he was in front of the door to Room 324. He tried it
cautiously, to find it locked.
"Now if only the keys will work," he muttered, breathing hard, and
taking a bunch of keys from his pocket he tried them, one after another.
He had tried four keys without success, when he saw a waiter
approaching with a trayful of good things for a late supper in a nearby
apartment. At once he moved away down the hallway and did not
return until the servant had disappeared from view.
He had five other keys and the third fitted the lock, although rather
crudely; so crudely in fact that once the lock bolt was turned the key
could not be withdrawn.
"That's bad," he thought. "But as it cannot be helped I'll have to make
the best of it. I mustn't stay here too long," and going into the room he
closed the door after him.
There was a faint light burning at one of the gas jets and this he turned
up, and pulled down the shades of the windows. Then he gazed swiftly
around the large room, noting the boys' trunks and traveling bags and
several articles of wearing apparel scattered about.
"Oh, if only I can find what I am after," he muttered. "But more than
likely they carry their money with them, or else they left it at the hotel
office."
All of the trunks and traveling bags were locked, and to force the trunks
open seemed at first impossible. One of the traveling bags was slit open
with a sharp pocket-knife the bully carried and the contents emptied on
one of the beds.

"Not much that I want," muttered Dan Baxter, as he gazed at the
collection. Then a jewel case caught his eye and he opened it. "A
diamond stud and a diamond scarf pin! Not so bad, after all!" And he
transferred the jewelry to his pocket.
A second later he came upon a bunch of keys. They proved to belong to
the trunks and bags, and soon he had the trunks open and the contents
scattered in all directions. Then he went down on his knees, examining
everything brought to light.
It must be confessed that he was in a fever of excitement. The Rover
boys might return at any moment, and he knew full well that to be
caught would mean a term in prison. He kept his ears on the alert while
his heart thumped loudly within his bosom.
"A pocketbook at last!" he cried softly, and snatched it up. One look
showed him a, small pile of five and ten-dollar bills, exactly two
hundred and seventy-five dollars in all. Then he found another jewel
case, and from it extracted a second diamond stud and a pair of very
fine cuff buttons.
"That is all I guess I can get," he muttered, as he stood up. "But I might
as well take a new outfit while I am at it," he added, and picked up
several articles of wearing apparel. These he stuffed in one of the bags
which had