into the boy's face.

"I suppose you're out here to watch me," growled Dalton, glaring.

"If I am, you wouldn't expect me to grow confidential about it, would
you?" asked Hank, grinning into the other's face.

"Oh, I don't want any of your impudence," snapped the rascal.

"I wouldn't give you any, or anything else belonging to me," clicked
Hank Butts, decisively.

"If you're standing out here to watch me," continued Dalton, "I am
willing to tell you that I am not leaving the hotel for the present."

"That, or any other information you are willing to offer me, will be
treated in the utmost confidence, I assure you," promised Hank.

"Don't be too frolicsome with me!" warned Dalton, wrathily.

"I?" echoed Hank, looking astonished. "Why, I didn't say anything
until you spoke to me."

With a snort Anson Dalton strolled away to a chair, seating himself
and blowing out great clouds of smoke.

"He isn't exactly glad to see us here--I can guess that much," thought
Hank. "But I wish I could guess how Anson Dalton comes to be here. I
didn't see anything of his drab boat in the river."

In the meantime Tom Halstead and Powell Seaton, after dropping into
chairs in the office, were talking most earnestly in undertones. From
where they sat they could see Dalton's red bag resting on a shelf in
the coat-room.

"I'd give the world to know whether the rascal has the stolen papers
still in that bag!" cried Seaton, anxiously.

"Would he be likely to leave the bag around the hotel carelessly, if
it contained anything so important?" asked Tom.

"He might have been willing to do so before he knew we were about
here," replied the charter-man.

"But even when he knows we're here the fellow doesn't seem anxious
about the matter."

"Because the clerk is behind the desk, where he can see everything,"
hinted Mr. Seaton.

"Yet, for all Dalton knows, the clerk might leave the room for a
minute and give us our chance."

"I've an idea," muttered Mr. Seaton, rising so quickly that Tom stood
up with him. "You keep the best eye possible over the rascal. Don't go
in to breakfast unless he goes. Never mind whether I come to breakfast
or not."

"All right, sir," nodded Halstead.

As Powell Seaton crossed the porch without even looking in Dalton's
direction, the young motor boat captain also stepped outside, going
over to Hank.

"Watch that fellow, Hank," whispered Tom. "Don't let him get away from
you."

"Not if I have to steal