“Oh, yes,” said Jack laughing, “we’ll be awfully put out. We don’t want to see a thing.”
Suddenly Frank pushed back his chair and with an incoherent cry started to dart away. Bob seized him by the coat. Frank writhed in his grasp and attempted to twist free. He was highly excited.
“Hold on,” said Bob. “What’s the matter?”
Then Frank managed to obtain sufficent control of his voice to explain.
“Let me go,” he demanded. “I saw that man who was on the train—the fellow who was explaining the smuggling plot.”
“Where, where?” demanded Bob, also gaining his feet.
“He was breakfasting over there,” said Frank, pointing to a table near the exit. “I caught just a glimpse of him. I think he was watching us. Come on.”
Turning, he darted off with Bob at his heels.
“Don’t leave the hotel,” called Mr. Temple, sharply. “People are watching us.”
“Excuse me,” said Jack, who had stood undecided whether to follow his chums. “I’ll be right back.”
With a sigh, Mr. Temple picked up his morning paper. But he was unable to concentrate on his reading. His eyes wandered anxiously toward the door despite himself. In a few minutes, however, his anxiety was relieved. He saw the forms of the three boys appear. From their expressions, he gathered that they had been unsuccessful.
“No use,” said Frank. “He had disappeared.”
“There are three doorways to as many streets,” explained Jack, sinking into his chair. “Each of us went a different way, but we couldn’t see him.”
“Maybe he’s a guest here,” said Bob, “and went to his room.”
“Good idea,” said Frank. “Why didn’t I think of that before? I’ll just go and describe him to the room clerk and see if he’s here, and maybe I can learn his name.”
He would have gone at once, but Mr. Temple restrained him.
“Finish your breakfast first, Frank,” said he. “You have barely touched your eggs and bacon. If the man is a guest here, you can get the information just as well a half hour from now.”
The boys finished breakfast in record time. Mr. Temple sighed.
“You fellows are in such a hurry,” said he. “If you are going to lead me the wild chase here that you did in New Mexico I’ll wish I had never brought you. Here I go and plan a little sightseeing trip, and the first thing you do before ever arriving at San Francisco is to become involved in a plot. It won’t do, you know.”