traightened himself up, and walked out of the room
as well as he could. I locked the door after him. If his key would fit
my valise, it followed that my key would fit his trunk. I tried the
experiment, and the logic failed. It was evident that he had other keys,
or that he was a regular operator, and carried implements for the
purpose of picking locks. I was not sure that the papers he had stolen
from me were in his trunk; but I was determined to have them before
morning, if I had to split the trunk open.

I unlocked the door, and presently E. Dunkswell staggered into the
room. The first thing he did was to drink from the bottle again.

"Thornton--hic!" said he. "You're a good fellow. Take some whisk--good
whisk zever you drank--hic--or any other man. Take zome whisk."

"No, I thank you; I never drink it."

"You dzon't zrink whisk! Then you are a to-tzeetler."

"I am," I replied, inclined to encourage him in talking, hopeful that he
would say something which would be of use to me.

"I'm not a to-tzeetler. My name's Dzunkswell. You're a to-tzeetler, and
I mus zrink for boze of us;" and, suiting the action to the word, he
imbibed again. "If I'm zrunk to-night, 'll be your fault,
Thornton--'cause I've got to zrink for boze of us."

But he was no longer in condition even to drink for both of us. He had
already taken more than he could carry, and he had just sense enough
left to roll into his berth, all in a heap. I straightened him out a
little, and in a few moments I heard him snoring in his drunken
slumbers. The time for action had come, and I was determined to search
him and his effects till I found the precious letters. I first examined
his pockets, but without finding the papers. The key of his trunk,
however, I did find. It was exceedingly disagreeable business to me; and
if only my own rights, instead of the life, liberty, and happiness of my
mother, had been at stake, I should have taken a less direct and more
uncertain method of enforcing them.

The trunk, which he had placed under his berth, I pulled out into the
floor. With trembling hand and eager heart I opened it. The package of
letters had been thrust down between the clothing and one end, evidently
in great haste, for I had probably disturbed him when I came to the
door. After assuring myself I had all that belonged to me, I closed the
trunk,--for I had no desire to explore it any further,--and restored it
to its place under the berth. The drunken ag