The Boy Scouts at the Panama-Pacific Exposition Part 18

"Oh, never mind, Tubby! After all, you didn't get hurt," said Andy. "In this case it looks like the thief had had his troubles for nothing."

"I've got a theory," said Rob, "but of course there's no way of proving it. It's connected with those two fellows who tried to play a smart game on Hiram here at Los Angeles, and got left for their pains."

"h.e.l.lo! I haven't heard anything about that up to now," exclaimed Tubby.

"Who and what were they, Rob? Ten to one you engineered a scheme to block them, because it would be just like Rob Blake to do that."

So Andy, having a glib tongue, took it upon himself to relate the adventure of the through train, and how the two clever rogues had tried to get them to enter a carriage as prisoners, meaning, of course, to rob Hiram as soon as the chance came.

Tubby laughed when he heard how their plan was brought to naught. His merriment grew even more boisterous after he learned that Rob had taken Hiram's papers to secrete them on his person, while the other hid some old letters in an inside pocket, which were deftly "lifted" during the short time the boys happened to be in close touch with the pair of rogues.

"Just to think of the bitter disappointment they met with," said Tubby between his gasps. "I'm sure they'll remember you fellows with anything but pleasure. Every time they glimpse a boy in khaki they'll be apt to utter some hard words."

"Well," continued Rob, "it was on what they must feel that I based my theory. You see, they must have been coming to one of the expositions, probably the big Panama-Pacific show, to ply their trade. That would take them here to San Francisco. By some chance or other they may have seen us, and found out where we are stopping; and this raid was carried out more with a desire to have revenge on us than anything else. If some one hadn't alarmed the fellows they might have amused themselves destroying everything in our bags and trunk."

"A mean revenge, but I wouldn't put it past a thief who was boiling mad because three Boy Scouts had managed to get the better of him," Andy declared, with considerable emphasis, which looked as though he rather favored the theory advanced by the scout leader.

"Whee! I hope this thing isn't as catching as the measles," ventured Tubby. "You know, I've gone and paid out some good money for several things that caught my eye in the booths at the Exposition; and I'd hate to have some one get away with them during my absence."

"Oh, small chance of that happening, Tubby! And if you're afraid to stay alone to-night, why, I'll go over with you to get your bag, and come on here," Andy told the anxious one.

Perhaps Tubby was at first sorely tempted to accept that offer; but then he chanced to catch a gleam of amus.e.m.e.nt on Hiram's face. That settled the matter. Pride stepped in and took the reins.

"Oh, never mind about that, Andy!" he hastened to say. "It's very kind of you to offer me help, but I think I had better wait until morning. I'll be around early and take breakfast with the bunch, remember. What time do you eat?"

Hiram and Andy allowed Rob to settle that for them.

"Call it eight o'clock, then. We'll wait that long for you, Tubby," the scout leader said.

"I'll be on the move by seven, and as I expect to pack my bag to-night before turning in, it isn't going to take me long to finish."

Tubby got up as though he knew he ought to be going; but apparently he hated to part from his chums. They had been together so much of recent years that they were as thick as peas in a pod.

Rob somehow did not seem to be altogether satisfied with the result of his first examination of the room; he was heard moving around in the second apartment. When he joined the rest again, Andy, who must have guessed what he had been about, began to question Rob.

"Find anything to give the game away in there, Rob?" he asked.

"Well, no, not that I could see," the scout leader replied. "The door, as you may remember, is locked, and the key at the office, where we haven't bothered taking it out. Besides, when we left this morning I shot the bolt home, so that no thief could have entered by that door; and certainly no one left the room that way, or the bolt would not be in the socket as it is."

"Oh, well, what's the use of bothering about it? We don't as a rule believe in crying over spilled milk. If that's the case, why should we fret when there's been no damage done at all, except my white shirt being soiled by finger prints?"

"Send that to the hotel laundry and forget it," advised Tubby. "Where did I leave my hat? Oh, here it is! By the way, don't be surprised when you see me in the morning, because I expect to be togged out in my khaki uniform, which Uncle had me fetch along in my big collapsible grip."

"We'll try and stand the wonderful sight the best way we can," Hiram told him; "but break it to us by inches, please, Tubby, so as to avoid as much risk as possible. I've got a weak heart, you know, and a sudden shock might be serious."

"Too bad you made your bargain with the hotel clerk before you donned your khaki, Tubby," ventured Andy. "He might have given you the room at half the price you expect to pay for it now on the European plan. Your presence here would be a standing advertis.e.m.e.nt for the place. They could afford to let you stay for nothing if only you'd agree to stand outside the restaurant door an hour each day, and pick your teeth."

All this kind of "joshing" had no effect on Tubby, who really seemed rather to enjoy being a target for these shafts of sarcasm leveled by his comrades, for his smile was as bright and cheery as ever.

"I'll tie my shoe first, and then skip out. Must be going on nine o'clock now, and I've got some lost sleep to make up."

Saying which he dropped down on one knee and set to work. The others accommodated themselves to the several easy-chairs, Hiram swinging one of his long legs over the arm of his seat in real Yankee fashion.

Rob yawned, and then taking out his little notebook-in which he was particular to jot down every daily event of any consequence on the trip-he felt in his pocket for a pencil.

"By the way, Hiram, you borrowed my pencil this afternoon, and didn't return it," he remarked, stretching out his hand toward the other scout, who, with a sheepish shrug of his shoulders, fished the article in question out of his vest pocket and handed it over.

It was just then that Tubby fairly scrambled to his feet. Rob looked up in some surprise, when to his further astonishment the fat boy tiptoed over, bent down, and said:

"Please don't give me the grand laugh, Rob, when I tell you I saw something moving under that bed there-a pair of shoes!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE THIEF UNDER THE BED.

"Hey, what's that, Tubby?"

It was Hiram who whispered this in a rather hoa.r.s.e and strained voice. He had managed to just barely overhear what the fat scout was telling Rob, and could hardly believe his ears.

Rob instantly held up a warning finger. His face looked serious for, while after all it might prove that Tubby's imagination was playing tricks with him, there were circ.u.mstances that gave the matter a suspicious look.

Some one had certainly been in their rooms turning things upside-down, as though searching for articles of value, or with the intention of creating as much havoc and confusion as possible.

Besides this, had they not already concluded that this person must have been disturbed in his vandal work? They believed he had fled, but after all it was possible that, hearing them at the door, he had made the utmost haste to conceal himself in the first hiding place available, which was under one of the beds.

Rob had to think quickly.

The man must be a desperate rascal or he would never have taken the chances he did in entering their apartments bent on such work.

Consequently he would, of course, be armed, and if given half a chance, might make things exceedingly disagreeable for the four scouts.

What should be done?

Hiram was already pointing toward the house telephone, as though suggesting the use of it to bring help from below. Rob shook his head to indicate that the plan did not seem to appeal to him when there might be a better one to adopt.

They were four in number, and pretty husky fellows in the bargain, who in times past had accomplished quite a few feats worth mentioning. It would be too bad if a squad of scouts of their caliber and experience could not manage in some way to smother a single concealed thief.

Of course, by this time, Andy had come to realize that there was something very exciting and mysterious going on. He wanted to burst out with a plain question, and ask Rob what it was all about; but reading the signification of that upraised finger, and the frown on the scout leader's face, he simply put out a hand and rested it on Rob's sleeve while a pleading expression gripped his face.

Taking pity on Andy, and believing that they must all work together if they expected to accomplish anything, Rob bent over and whispered in his ear.

"Somebody's hiding under the bed, Tubby says. Now laugh out loud as though we were having a joke; that is to keep him quiet a while longer."

Fortunately Andy Bowles was quick-witted enough to grasp the peculiar situation. He understood just why Rob wanted him to make it appear as though things were moving along as usual, and that no suspicion had been aroused.

So Andy laughed. If there was a queer, husky touch to the sounds he emitted to order surely Andy could hardly be blamed, for he must have been quivering all over just then from hysterical excitement.