soliloquized Fred, as he lazily got out of bed and drew on his
clothes, "I am not sorry to have the room alone. If I could have a
friend from home with me I should like it, but I don't care for the
company of a stranger."

Fred reflected that he had all the day to himself. He could hear the
roar of the famous cataract, which he had not yet seen on account of
his late arrival the night before, and he determined to go there
immediately after breakfast, or even before breakfast if he found that
it was quite near. He went to the window and looked out, but it was not
in sight.

"I may as well put on a clean shirt," thought Fred, and he went to the
table to open the bundle which he had brought from Jersey City. He had
just unfastened the string when a quick, imperative knock was heard at
the door of his room.

"Come in!" said Fred, with some surprise.

He turned his face to the door, and his wonder increased as it opened
and he saw the clerk and a stranger standing on the threshold. They
entered the room and closed the door behind them.

"What is the matter?" asked the train boy. "Has anything happened?"

"When did your room-mate leave?" asked the detective, not answering his
question.

"I don't know; I only just woke up."

"Did you rest well?"

"That's a very queer question to ask me," thought Fred. "Yes," he
answered, "I rested very well."

The detective and the clerk exchanged glances. This statement did not
accord with what Fred's room-mate had said down-stairs.

"The bed was very comfortable," added Fred by way of compliment to the
house.

"I am glad you found it so," said the detective dryly.

"Did you come upstairs to ask how I rested?' asked Fred, with a smile.

"You are sharp, my young friend," said the detective, "and I think I
may say wonderfully cool under the circumstances."

"Under what circumstances?" asked Fred, his attention drawn to the last
part of the detective's speech.

"There was a burglary committed yesterday afternoon in Elmira," said
the detective, fastening his eyes keenly on the face of the train boy.

"Was there?" asked Fred, not seeing in what way this information was
likely to affect him. "I thought most burglaries were committed in the
night."

"They are, generally, but this was an exception. There was no one in
the house except old Mr. Carver, who is quite hard of hearing. The
burglary probably took place about five o'clock, and the burglar is
supposed to have taken the