I'll remember."

The remainder of the walk was enlivened by conversation of a similar
kind. Though Mike was not much of a scholar, he was well informed on
local matters, and it was upon such points that Robert wished to be
posted.

When they reached the hotel Mike uttered an exclamation of surprise.

"Say, do you see that man in the doorway?" he asked eagerly.

"What of him?"

"He's the very man that cheated me out of my pay--the man I hit wid an
egg. Here he is again."

Robert surveyed the man with curious interest. He was a man of middle
age, well dressed, but with a hard, stern look upon his face. He was by
no means one likely to attract strangers.

"How do you know it is the same one?" asked Robert in a low voice.

"He's got the same look. I'd remember him if it was a dozen years, but
it's only six months."

"But you might be mistaken."

"I'll show you whether I am. Come along."

When they entered the vestibule of the hotel Mike paused a moment and,
in hearing of the stranger, said:

"Last night, as I was walkin' along, I seed a man hit wid a rotten egg.
He looked mad enough to kill the one that throwed it."

The stranger wheeled round and regarded Mike intently.

"Boy," said he, "I think I've seen you before."

"Maybe you have," answered Mike coolly. "Lots of people has seen me."

"Did you ever carry a valise for me?"

"Maybe I did. I've carried lots of 'em."

"I think you once brought a valise for me to this very hotel."

"How much did you pay me for doin' it? Maybe I could tell by that."

"I don't know. I presume I paid you liberally."

"Then I guess it was some other boy," said Mike, grinning.

The gentleman looked puzzled, but just then a young man came up and
spoke to him, addressing him as "Mr. Waldo."

Robert started at the sound of this name. He remembered that this was
the name of his employer's cousin, who was suspected of abducting the
boy of whom he was in search.

Bidding good-by to his young guide, he registered his name and then
turned over the pages back. In the list of arrivals for the day before
he came upon this entry:

"Charles Waldo, Sullivan, Ohio."

"It's the very man!" he said to himself in excitement.

CHAPTER XXVI

TWO IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES

Charles Waldo was the name of the hermit's cousin, who was suspected of
kidnapping the boy who stood between him and the property. It was to
find this very man that Robert was sent out by Gilbert Huet.

Rob