alt on a corner in
bewilderment. He had seen Cuffer last on that corner, but where the
rascal had gone was a question.

"Want a paper?" asked an urchin close by. "Evening papers!"

"Say, kid, did you see a man run past here just now?" asked Dick.

"Sure I did."

"Where did he go?"

"Wot will yer give me if I tell yer?" asked the newsboy shrewdly.

"Five cents."

"All right, hand over de nickel."

"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