The Rover Boys on Land and Sea | Page 6

not been cut, and around it put a small strap.
Tiptoeing his way to the door, he opened it and listened. Nobody was
within hearing or sight. But as he stepped out, the waiter he had before
seen came once more into view, this time carrying a tray with some
bottles and a box of cigars. The waiter eyed him curiously again, but
said nothing.
"Too bad he saw me, but it can't be helped," thought Dan Baxter, and
made his way downstairs with all possible speed. Once in the lower
hall he lost no time in gaining the street. In another moment he was
swallowed up in the darkness of the night.
CHAPTER III

A DISCOVERY AND WHAT FOLLOWED
"Hullo, what does this mean? Here is a key in the door."
It was Dick Rover who spoke. He stood in the hallway of the hotel, and
beside him were Tom and Sam. They had eaten rather heartily at the
restaurant and taken more time than they had anticipated.
"I didn't leave the key there," came from Tom. "Here it is," and he
brought it out of his pocket. "I meant to leave it at the desk, but it
slipped my mind."
Dick found the door open and walked into the room, followed by his
brothers. Baxter had extinguished the gas and they stood in the dark
until Sam found a match and lit up. Then a cry went up from all three:
"We have been robbed!"
"This is some sneak thief's work," came from Dick. "Run down and tell
the hotel clerk at once."
Tom bolted from the room and went down the stairs three steps at a
time. The clerk sat dozing in his chair and was roused up with difficulty.
But as soon as he realized that something was wrong he was
wide-awake.
"A robbery, eh?" he queried. "What have you lost?"
"We've got to find that out," answered Tom.
In less than a quarter of an hour they knew the extent of their
loss--three diamonds and a pair of cuff buttons, in all worth over two
hundred dollars, and two hundred and seventy-five dollars in cash--not
to mention a ruined valise and one missing, and the loss of a light
overcoat, some silk handkerchiefs and some underwear.
"A total loss of over five hundred dollars," said Tom.
At this the hotel clerk gave a long whistle. "As much as that?"

"Yes," said Dick.
"We must get on the track of the thief, and without delay."
"I reckon I know the thief," said Sam.
"You think it was Dan Baxter?" questioned his elder brother.
"I do."
"Perhaps you are right. But there is no proof that he did it."
The hotel clerk found the windows closed and locked.
"The thief came in and went out by the door," he said. "The hall boys
or somebody else must have seen him. This key is stuck in the lock,
which proves that it is not a regular hotel key."
Without delay the story of the robbery was telephoned to the nearest
police station, and soon two detectives appeared. By this time some of
the servants noticed that something was wrong, and the waiter who had
seen Dan Baxter come in and go out told his story, to which the boys,
the hotel clerk, and the detectives listened with interest.
"Tell us just how that fellow looked," said Dick, and the waiter gave a
very good description of the person he had seen.
"I imagine Sam is right," said Dick. "If it wasn't Dan Baxter it was his
double."
Upon hearing this the hotel clerk and the detectives insisted upon
knowing who Dan Baxter was, and the boys told as much of the bully
as they deemed necessary.
"Of course, if he is guilty the chances are that he will leave San
Francisco as soon as possible," said one of the detectives. "The best we
can do is to try to head him off."
"And we'll do our best to find him, too," added Tom.

"I think the hotel ought to be responsible for this robbery," said Dick.
"You didn't leave your key at the desk when you went out," cried the
hotel clerk, struck by a sudden idea.
"What of that?" asked Tom.
"That makes the guest responsible."
"What!" cried Tom, aghast.
"We are responsible only when the key is left at the desk. And jewels
must be left for keeping in one of our safes," went on the clerk. "There
are our rules," and he pointed to the printed form tacked on the inside
of the door.
"Don't let us talk about that just now," said one of the detectives. "I
think we can get hold of this thief, and if we are quick about it we'll get
everything he took,