and he prepared for action.

Fairfax was half bent over, and Robert, who was deeply incensed, threw
himself from the upper berth, landing on the back of his roommate, who
was borne to the floor, releasing the garment with a startled cry.

"What did you do that for?" he asked nervously.

"What business had you with my pocketbook, you thief?" demanded Robert
sternly.

Mortimer Fairfax, who had supposed Robert to be fast asleep, saw that he
was in a scrape, but he was a man fertile in expedients, and he
instantly decided upon his course.

"What do you mean?" he inquired in a tone of innocent bewilderment.

"What do I mean?" retorted our hero. "I want to know what business you
had with my pocketbook in your hand?"

"You don't mean to say that I was meddling with your pocketbook?" said
Fairfax with an air of surprise.

"That is exactly what I do say, Mr. Fairfax. If I hadn't waked up just
as I did, you would have had all my money, and I should have been
penniless. That is the sort of fever and ague that troubles you, I
suppose."

"My young friend," said Fairfax, "I am shocked at what you tell me. I do
not blame you for accusing me. If I were in your place and you in mine,
I should no doubt act in the same way. Yet I am entirely innocent, I can
assure you."

"It don't look much like it," Robert said, rather astonished at the
man's effrontery. "When I find you examining my pockets and taking out
my pocketbook, it looks very much as if you were trying to rob me."

"True, it does. I admit it all. But if you knew me, you would see how
groundless, nay, how absurd such suspicions are. Why, I am a rich man. I
am worth fifty thousand dollars."

"Then why did you try to rob me?"

"I did not. It was only in appearance. Did you ever hear of a
somnambulist?"

"No."

"It is one who gets up in his sleep and is entirely unconscious of what
he does. From early youth--from the days of my innocent boyhood--I have
been a victim of this unfortunate malady."

"Do you often steal in your sleep?" inquired Robert sarcastically.

"Not often, but I have done it before. Once, when a boy, I got up and
took a purse from the pocket of my uncle, who occupied the same room
with me."

"What did your uncle say?" Robert asked with some curiosity.

"He was angry till my mother assured him that I was a somnambulist and
not responsible for what I did at such a time. Then we had a good laugh,
over it."

"Do you mean to say, Mr. Fairfax,