They did not expect
to find the desperate maniac a boy.
"Perhaps there's more than one of them," suggested the second
servant, prudently.
"Why don't you come out yourself?" asked James. "I am locked
in."
The door was opened with a passkey and Paul confronted the party.
"Now, young man, what do you mean by making such a disturbance?"
demanded Mr. Piper, excitably. "My room is just below, and I
expected every minute you would come through."
"I am sorry if I disturbed you, sir," said Paul, politely; "but
it was the only way I could attract attention."
"How came you locked up here?"
"Yes," chimed in James, suspiciously, "how came you locked up
here?"
"I was drugged with chloroform, and locked in," said Paul.
"Who did it?"
"Mr. Felix Montgomery; or that's what he called himself. I came
here by appointment to meet him."
"What did he do that for?"
"He has carried off a diamond ring which I came up here to sell
him."
"A very improbable story," said Mr. Piper, suspiciously. "What
should such a boy have to do with a diamond ring?"
Nothing is easier than to impart suspicion. Men are prone to
believe evil of each other; and Paul was destined to realize
this.
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