He rose from his seat.

 

"Where are you going?" asked the old gentleman.

 

"I am going to look for the thief."

 

"Do you expect to find him?"

 

"He said he was going into the smoking-car."

 

"My young friend, I strongly suspect that this was only to blind you. The cars have stopped at two stations since he left his seat, and if he took your money he has doubtless effected his escape."

 

Walter was rather taken aback by this [Pg 227]consideration. It seemed reasonable enough, and, if true, he didn't see how he was going to get back his money.

 

"I dare say you are right," he said; "but I will go into the smoking-car and see."

 

"Come back again, and let me know whether you find him."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

Walter went through two cars, looking about him on either side, thinking it possible that the thief might have taken his seat in one of them. There was very little chance of this, however. Next he passed into the smoking-car, where, to his joy no less than his surprise, he found the man of whom he was in search playing cards with three other passengers.

 

He looked up carelessly as Walter approached, but did not betray the slightest confusion or sign of guilt². To let the reader into a secret, he had actually taken Walter's pocket-book, but was too cunning to keep it about him. He had taken out the money, and thrown the porte-monnaie itself from the car platform, taking an opportunity when he thought himself unobserved. As the money [Pg 228]consisted of bills, which could not be identified as Walter's, he felt that he was in no danger of detection. He thought that he could afford to be indifferent.

 

"Did you get tired of waiting?" he asked, addressing our hero.

 

"That's pretty cool if he took the money," thought Walter.

 

"May I speak to you a moment?" asked Walter.

 

"Certainly."

 

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