?"

"Just down the street a step. I will show you if you wish it."

"Let us take a room together," suggested Jackson Walters, as they left the
restaurant. "I hate to go in among perfect strangers, don't you?"

"Yes, but it couldn't be helped. I took a quarter bed, and there are six in
a room."

"Humph! six! That's too many. How much do they want for a room for two?"

"Seventy-five cents each."

"Then I'll tell you what I'll do--I'll pay the dollar if you'll pay the
fifty cents. Those rooms with six beds in are vile."

Ralph hesitated a moment, and then said he was agreeable. He, too, did not
imagine, after some reflection, that the bed for a quarter of a dollar
could be very good.

They soon reached the hotel, and Jackson Walters explained the new
arrangement to the clerk. Ralph paid over another twenty-five cents, and
his new friend the dollar, and then a boy was called to conduct them to
room No. 96, on the third floor.

"Call me at half-past seven," said Jackson Walters. "I don't know when you
want to get up," he said to Ralph.

"That will suit me, sir," was the boy's reply.

He usually arose at an earlier hour, but thought he deserved a longer rest,
considering what he had passed through.

The boy led them up two flights of narrow stairs, and showed them the room,
at the same time lighting the gas. He had brought a pitcher of water with
him, and placing this on the washstand, he left, closing the door behind
him.

The room was plainly but neatly furnished, and although the bed was
scratched and old-fashioned, it was clean. It did not take Ralph long to
undress and get under the covers.

"Do you sleep with a light?" asked Jackson Walters. "I never do."

"Nor I."

So the gas was put out, and a moment later Ralph's companion retired also.
In a few minutes he began to breathe heavily, as though in the soundest of
slumbers.

But this was all sham. He was far from being asleep, as the sequel soon
showed.

Ten minutes later Ralph fell asleep, to dream of home and all that had been
left behind.

In a few minutes after this, Jackson Walters crawled from the bed, and
began to don his clothing silently, but in great haste. He put on his
stockings, but he placed his shoes in his coat pockets.

This done, he took up Ralph's clothing from where it lay on a chair. With a
dexterity worthy of a better cause, he went through the pockets, searching
for everything of value.

His nefarious task was soon accom