ething 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, too."

The matter was talked over for a quarter of an hour longer and then
the detectives went off to make their report and to follow on the
trail of Dan Baxter, if such a thing was possible.

It must be confessed that the three Rover boys slept but little that
night. The loss of the cash was something of a serious matter to
them, even though they still possessed a hundred odd dollars in cash
between them, and could easily telegraph home for more. More than
this, the diamonds and cuff buttons had been gifts of which they were
very proud.

"And to think that Dan Baxter should get them," said Tom. "I wouldn't
feel half so bitter if it had been just some ordinary sneak thief."
And the others said the same.

Two days went by and nothing was learned concerning Dan Baxter further
than that he had put up at the Montgomery Hotel for one night and
had left early in the morning.

"He is hundreds of miles away from here by this time," said Dick sadly.

"He said he would get square, and I guess h