Baxter had extinguished the gas and they stood in the dark until Sam found a match and lit up.

Then a cry went up from all three: "We have been robbed!" "This is some sneak thief's work," came from Dick.

"Run down and tell the hotel clerk at once." Tom bolted from the room and went down the stairs three steps at a time.

The clerk sat dozing in his chair and was roused up with difficulty.

But as soon as he realized that something was wrong he was wide-awake.
"A robbery, eh ?" he queried.