might be some money there."

This was very scrupulous for one who had already searched all Tom's
pockets thoroughly.

Our hero got up, and got the key for his roommate.

"No, it won't fit," said the young man, after a brief trial. "It is too
large."

Tom replaced the key in his pocket, confident that Graham would in the
course of the night use it to open his valise. This, however, did not
trouble him.

"He won't think it worth while to steal my shirts or stockings," he
reflected, "and the handkerchiefs are not worth taking."

"It will be rather awkward if I can't find my keys," said Graham
craftily. "I keep my money in my valise."

He thought his unsophisticated companion would reveal in turn where he
kept his money; but Tom only said, "That is a good place," and, turning
over, closed his eyes again.

During the night Tom's valise was opened, as he ascertained in a simple
way. In the morning he found that the key was in the right hand-pocket
instead of the left, in which he had placed it.

Upon Graham's last failure he began to suspect what Tom had done with
his money.

"The boy isn't so green as I thought," he said to himself. "Curse his
prudence! I must get the money somehow, for I am precious hard up."

He got up early, when Tom was yet asleep, and went down to the office.

"Good morning," he said to the clerk affably.

"Good morning, sir."

"My young friend and roommate left his money with you last night. Please
deliver it to me."

"What is the number of your room?" asked the clerk quietly.

"No. 16. Tom Nelson is my roommate."

"Why doesn't he come for it himself?" inquired the hotel clerk, with a
searching glance at Graham.

"He wishes me to buy his steamboat ticket," answered Graham coolly. "He
is going down the river in my charge."

"Are you his guardian?"

"Yes," answered Graham, with cool effrontery. "He is the son of an
acquaintance of mine, and I naturally feel an interest in the boy."

"He told me he never met you till yesterday."

Graham was rather taken aback, but he recovered himself quickly.

"That's pretty cool in Tom," he returned, shrugging his shoulders. "I
understand it, though."

"I am glad you do," said the clerk sarcastically, "for it doesn't look
to me at all consistent with what you represent."

"The fact is," said Graham plausibly, "Tom has a feeling of
independence, and doesn't like to have it supposed that he is under
anybody's protection. That accounts for