“Where am I?” asked Wheeler in a tone
of apparent bewilderment.
“Oh, it’s you, Mr. Wheeler?” said
Jefferson. “Don’t you know where you
are?”
“Oh, it is my friend, Mr. Pettigrew. Is
it possible I am in your room?”
“It is very possible. Now tell me why you
are here?”
“I am really ashamed to find myself in this
strange position. It is not the first time that
I have got into trouble from walking in my sleep.”
“Oh, you were walking in your sleep!”
“Yes, friend Petttigrew. It has been a
habit of mine since I was a boy. But it seems
very strange that I should have been led to your room.
How could I get in? Wasn’t the door locked?”
“It is locked now?”
“It is strange! I don’t understand
it,” said Wheeler, passing his hand over his
forehead.
“Perhaps you understand why you have that bag
of gold in your hand.”
“Can it be possible?” ejaculated Wheeler
in well counterfeited surprise. “I don’t
know how to account for it.”
“I think I can. Rodney, unlock the door
and come in.”
The key was turned in the lock, and Rodney entered
with a lighted candle in his hand.
“You see, Rodney, that I have a late visitor.
You will notice also that my bag of gold seems to
have had an attraction for him.”
“I am ashamed. I don’t really know
how to explain it except in this way. When you
displayed the gold last night it drew my attention
and I must have dreamed of it. It was this which
drew me unconsciously to your door. It is certainly
an interesting fact in mental science.”
“It would have been a still more interesting
fact if you had carried off the gold.”
“I might even have done that in my unconsciousness,
but of course I should have discovered it tomorrow
morning and would have returned it to you.”
“I don’t feel by any means sure of that.
Look here, Mr. Wheeler, if that is your name, you
can’t pull the wool over my eyes. You are
a thief, neither more nor less.”
“How can you misjudge me so, Mr. Pettigrew?”
“Because I know something of your past history.
It is clear to me now that you were the person that
stole John O’Donnell’s money.”
“Indeed, Mr. Pettigrew.”
“It is useless to protest. How much of
it have you left?”
Louis Wheeler was compelled to acknowledge the theft,
and returned one hundred dollars to Jefferson Pettigrew.
“Now,” said Jefferson, “I advise
you to leave the hotel at once. If the boys find
out that you are a thief you will stand a chance of
being lynched. Get out!”
The next morning Jefferson Pettigrew told the other
boarders that Louis Wheeler had had a sudden call
East, and it was not for a week that he revealed to
them the real reason of Wheeler’s departure.
RODNEY FALLS INTO A TRAP.
