worth your while."

"All right. I was just about going home, anyway."

"Then I'll go upstairs and get my bag."

Andy went to his room, opened the window, and, looking down, saw his new
boy friend.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes."

"You needn't try to catch it. There's nothing in it that will break."

"Fling her out!"

Andy did so.

"Now come down. You'll find me here."

An hour later supper was served. Percival Robinson and three other men,
likewise patrons of the barroom, sat down. The landlord himself was one
of the party.

"Where is the kid?" he asked.

"I saw him go out an hour ago," said one of the guests.

"He has probably come back and is in his room," said Robinson. "I will
go up and call him."

He went upstairs quickly and entered the room assigned to Andy and
himself. It was empty.

"The boy has taken a long walk," he said to himself.

Then he looked about for Andy's grip. It occurred to him that he would
have a good opportunity to examine its contents.

He started in surprise and dismay, for the grip was gone.

"He must have given me the slip," he exclaimed.

"Did any one see the boy go out with his gripsack?" he asked, as he
returned.

"I saw him go out, but he had nothing in his hand," answered the
landlord.

"Well, he's gone, bag and baggage," returned Robinson, very much
annoyed.

"At any rate, he has paid his bill," said the landlord, complacently.

"Bother his hotel bill!" muttered Robinson, roughly. "I meant to have a
good deal more than that."

"Have you any idea where he has gone?"

"I think he may have gone to the Sherman House. I'll go there after
supper and see if I can find him."

CHAPTER XXXII.

A CRITICAL MOMENT.

Guided by his boy companion, Andy found the Sherman House and registered
there. The change was a very satisfactory one, and he enjoyed the
comfortable room to which he was assigned.

After a hearty supper he took a seat in the office and watched with
interest the crowds that surged in and out of the hotel. Presently he
saw a familiar figure entering.

It was his late companion, Percival Robinson. The latter was not long in
recognizing the boy.

He walked up to the chair on which Andy was seated and addressed him
with a look of anger.

"So I have found you, have I?" he said, roughly.

Andy knew that this man had no right to interfere with him, and
answered, coolly:

"So it seems."

"Why did you play me such a mean trick, bo