Piper, "why, when you found yourself locked
in, didn't you ring the bell, instead of making such a confounded
racket? My nerves won't get over it for a week."

"I didn't think of the bell," said Paul; "I am not much used to hotels."

"What will we do with him?" asked James, looking to Mr. Piper for
counsel.

"You'd better take him downstairs, and see if his story is correct,"
said the nervous gentleman, with returning good sense.

"I'll do it," said James, to whom the very obvious suggestion seemed
marked by extraordinary wisdom, and he grasped Paul roughly by the arm.

"You needn't hold me," said our hero, shaking off the grasp. "I haven't
any intention of running away. I want to find out, if I can, what has
become of the man that swindled me."

James looked doubtfully at Mr. Piper.

"I don't think he means to run away," said that gentleman. "I begin to
think his story is correct. And hark you, my young friend, if you ever
get locked up in a hotel room again, just see if there is a bell before
you make such a confounded racket."

"Yes, sir, I will," said Paul, half-smiling; "but I'll take care not to
get locked up again. It won't be easy for anybody to play that trick on
me again."

The party filed downstairs to the office and Paul told his story to the
bookkeeper.

"Have you seen Mr. Montgomery go out?" asked our hero.

"Yes, he went out half an hour ago, or perhaps more. He left his key at
the desk, but said nothing. He seemed to be in a hurry."

"You didn't notice in what direction he went?"

"No."

Of course no attempt was made to detain Paul. There could be no case
against him. He went out of the hotel, and looked up and down Broadway
in a state of indecision. He did not mean to sit down passively and
submit to the swindle. But he had no idea in what direction to search
for Mr. Felix Montgomery.

CHAPTER XIX

PAUL DELIBERATES

Paul stood in the street irresolute. He looked hopelessly up and down
Broadway, but of course the jeweler from Syracuse was not to be seen.
Seeking for him in a city containing hundreds of streets and millions
of inhabitants was about as discouraging as hunting for a needle in a
haystack. But difficult as it was, Paul was by no means ready to give
up the search. Indeed, besides the regret he felt at the loss, he was
mortified at having been so easily outwitted.

"He's taken me in just as if I was a country boy," thought Paul. "I dare
say he's laughing at me now.