At first he thought to inform the police of what had occurred.
He was making for a policeman when he saw Pat coming out of the saloon. The rough had had half a dozen glasses of liquor, and he was in consequence quite hazy in his mind.
"You rascal!" cried our hero, catching him by the shoulder. "Give me back what you stole from me."
"That's all right, boss--didn't steal nothin'," mumbled Pat.
"I say you did--a baggage check and about a dollar in change. Give them up or I'll have you arrested."
"Aint got no check," hiccoughed Pat. "An' the money is spent."
At this the tough grew alarmed, and at last he broke down and confessed that he had got the check for another party who had given him five dollars for it. He had part of the five dollars left, and out of this he gave Robert a sum equal to that which had been stolen.
"Who took that check?" demanded our hero, a sudden suspicion crossing his mind.
As well as he was able Pat described Hammerditch.
"He's goin' ter git sumthin' on de check," he added.
"Not if I can prevent it," answered Robert. "He wants to steal my valise. You come with me."
"I aint goin' ter!" roared Pat, and breaking away, he started on a clumsy run. Robert could readily have caught him, but concluded not to waste the time.
"Hammerditch will be hot-footed after my bag," he thought. "He expects to get that map."
He looked around, and espying a hack standing near, leaped in, and ordered the driver to get him to the depot with all possible speed.
Pat ran for fully six blocks, and then sank down on a pile of lumber, panting for breath.
"I'm in fer it," he groaned, expecting that Robert was at his heels.
But the boy was nowhere to be seen, and at once his courage arose, and he concluded that Robert had given up the chase. He counted his money and found that he had exactly a dollar and ten cents left. The balance of the cash had been paid over to the saloon keeper and to Robert.
"I guess I'll git anudder drink," he murmured, and rolled over to the nearest dive. Here in less than half an hour every cent that had been left was spent, and then Pat started for home. He could not walk straight, and frequently bumped up against those he passed. He had passed less than three blocks when he espied Mike coming toward him.