. Brown, sir! Will you come right up to Mr. Sterz--I mean Mr.
Robinson's room, please, sir! 'E wants to see you gentlemen special.
'Urry, please! 'Urry!'

"So we ''urried,' wonderin' what on earth was the matter. And when we
got to the Robinson rooms, there was Grace, lookin' awful pale, and the
old man himself ragin' up and down like a horse mack'rel in a fish weir.

"Soon as papa sees us, he jumped up in the air, so's to speak, and when
he lit 'twas right on our necks. His daughter, who seemed to be the
sanest one in the lot, run and shut the door.

"'Look here, you!' raved the old gent, shakin' both fists under Peter
T.'s nose. 'Didn't you tell me this was a respectable hotel? And ain't
we payin' for respectability?'

"Peter admitted it, bein' too much set back to argue, I cal'late.

"'Yes!' rages Robinson. 'We pay enough for all the respectability in
this state. And yet, by the livin' Moses! I can't go out of my room
to spoil my digestion with your cussed dried-apple pie, but what I'm
robbed!'

"'Robbed!' the three of us gurgles in chorus.

"'Yes, sir! Robbed! Robbed! ROBBED! What do you think I came here for?
And why do I stay here all this time? 'Cause I LIKE it? 'Cause I can't
afford a better place? No, sir! By the great horn spoon! I come here
because I thought in this forsaken hole I could get lost and be safe.
And now--'

"He tore around like a water spout, Grace trying to calm him, and
Henry and Suzette, the maid, groanin' and sobbin' accompaniments in the
corner. I looked at the dresser. There was silver-backed brushes and all
sorts of expensive doodads spread out loose, and Miss Robinson's watch
and a di'mond ring, and a few other knickknacks. I couldn't imagine a
thief's leavin' all that truck, and I said so.

"'Them?' sputters Pa, frantic. 'What the brimstone blazes do you think
I care for them? I could buy that sort of stuff by the car-load, if I
wanted to. But what's been stole is--Oh, get out and leave me alone!
You're no good, the lot of you!'

"'Father has had a valuable paper stolen from him,' explains Grace. 'A
very valuable paper.'

"'Valuable!' howls her dad. 'VALUABLE! Why, if Gordon and his gang get
that paper, they've got ME, that's all. Their suit's as good as won, and
I know it. And to think that I've kept it safe up to within a month
of the trial, and now--Grace Sterzer, you stop pattin' my head. I'm no
pussy-cat! By the--' And so on, indefinite.

"When he called his daughter