"No," said Robert generously. "You are sick and ought to have the best.
I am perfectly well, and I shan't mind climbing into the upper one."

"But it seems so selfish in me," protested the stranger, "to step into
your stateroom and take the best accommodations."

"Not if I am willing," responded Robert cheerfully. "So it is all
settled."

"How kind you are!" murmured the invalid. "Though we have met so
recently, I cannot help feeling toward you as if you were my younger
brother."

Robert thanked him, but could hardly reciprocate the feeling. In truth,
he had taken no fancy to the man whom he had accepted as roommate and
was only influenced by compassion for his reported sickness.

They undressed and retired to their berths. As the stranger was about to
step into his he said:

"It is only fair to tell you my name. I am called Mortimer Fairfax and I
am a partner in a business firm in Baltimore. Are you in business?"

"Not exactly," answered Robert, "though I am traveling on business just
now."

"I believe you didn't mention your name," said Fairfax.

"My name is Robert Coverdale."

"An excellent name. I know a family in Philadelphia by that name. Are
you sleepy?"

"A little."

"Then suppose we go to sleep?"

"All right. Goodnight!"

Then there was silence in the stateroom.

It was not long before Robert's eyes closed. He had gone about
considerable during the day and was naturally fatigued. Generally he had
no difficulty in sleeping soundly, but to-night proved an exception. He
tossed about in his narrow berth and he was troubled with disagreeable
dreams. Sometimes it happens that such dreams visit us to warn us of
impending danger.

Robert finally dreamed that a pickpocket had drawn his pocketbook from
his pocket and was running away with it, and he awoke with a sudden
start, his face bathed in perspiration.

It was midnight. The band had ceased playing for two hours and all who
had staterooms had retired to them. Only here and there in the main
saloon a passenger lay asleep in an armchair.

There was a scanty light, which entered the stateroom through a small
window, and by this light Robert, half rising in bed, saw a sight that
startled him.

Mr. Mortimer Fairfax, his roommate, was out of his berth. He had taken
down Robert's trousers from the nail on which he had hung them and was
in the act of pulling out his wallet, which he had imprudently left in
it.

This sight fully aroused the lad,