ickel."

"Here it is," and Dick showed the money in his hand. "Now where was
it?"

"He went in de Sunrise Hotel, down dare. I watched him run in."

"What kind of a hat did he have on?"

"A soft hat wid a big knock in one side."

"And you are sure he went in that hotel?"

"Cross me heart, mister. I watched him, cos he was out o' breath, an'
I knowed he was up to som't'in'."

"Here is your money," answered Dick, and passed the nickel over. Then
he walked to the hotel and paused on the sidewalk to look the place
over before entering.

CHAPTER X

DICK BECOMES A PRISONER

The Sunrise Hotel had seen better days. It was a five story brick
building, blackened by age and had numerous small windows, down in
front of which ran an iron fire escape. The lower floor was used as a
drinking place, to one side of which ran a narrow stairs, leading to
an office and a parlor above.

Looking in over the short doors of the drinking place, Dick saw that
Cuffer was not there. He rightly surmised that the fellow had gone
upstairs, to a room he was occupying.

"Perhaps that fellow Shelley is with him," mused Dick. "If so, I'd
like to collar them both."

Several men were coming and going and nobody paid particular attention
to the youth until he gained the dingy office, where two men were
smoking and talking over the merits of some race horses.

"What can I do for you?" asked one of the men abruptly, as Dick looked
around.

"Is a man named Cuffer stopping here?"

The hotel clerk shook his head.

"Perhaps I have the name wrong. I mean a man who came in a minute or
two ago--fellow with a soft hat, knocked in on the side."

"Oh, that chap! Yes, he's here--room eighteen, next floor," and the
clerk pointed up the stairs, for the hotel had no elevator.

Dick walked up the stairs slowly, revolving in his mind what he should
do if he met Cuffer face to face. If he had the man arrested it might
lead to legal complications, and the voyage in search of Treasure Isle
might be delayed. It would be hard to prove that the rascal had done
any actual wrong.

Reaching the upper hallway, Dick looked at the dingy numbers on the
still more dingy doors. Eighteen proved to be at the rear, where it
was so dark he could scarcely see.

As the youth approached the door he heard a murmur of voices in the
room beyond. He listened, and made out Cuffer speaking, and then he
recognized the voice of Shelley.

"And so I dusted out before I