“I have nothing to do with that,” said the clerk.

“You absolutely refuse, then?”

“I do,” answered the clerk, firmly.  “However, you can easily overcome the difficulty by bringing the boy down here to authorize me to hand you the money.”

“It seems to me that you have plenty of red tape here,” said Coleman, shrugging his shoulders.  “However, I must do as you require.”

Coleman had a bright thought, which he proceeded to carry into execution.

He left the office and went upstairs.  He was absent long enough to visit the chamber which he and Luke had occupied together.  Then he reported to the office again.

“The boy is not dressed,” he said, cheerfully.  “However, he has given me an order for the money, which, of course, will do as well.”

He handed a paper, the loose leaf of a memorandum book, on which were written in pencil these words: 

“Give my guardian, Mr. Coleman, the money I left on deposit at the office.  Luke Larkin.”

“That makes it all right, doesn’t it?” asked Coleman, jauntily.  “Now, if you’ll be kind enough to hand me my money at once, I’ll be off.”

“It won’t do, Mr. Coleman,” said the clerk.  “How am I to know that the boy wrote this?”

“Don’t you see his signature?”

The clerk turned to the hotel register, where Luke had enrolled his name.

“The handwriting is not the same,” he said, coldly.

“Oh, confound it!” exclaimed Coleman, testily.  “Can’t you understand that writing with a pencil makes a difference?”

“I understand,” said the clerk, “that you are trying to get money that does not belong to you.  The money was deposited a couple of hours sooner than the time you claim to have handed it to the boy—­just after you and the boy arrived.”

“You’re right,” said Coleman, unabashed.  “I made a mistake.”

“You cannot have the money.”

“You have no right to keep it from me,” said Coleman, wrathfully.

“Bring the boy to the office and it shall be delivered to him; then, if he chooses to give it to you, I have nothing to say.”

“But I tell you he is not dressed.”

“He seems to be,” said the clerk, quietly, with a glance at the door, through which Luke was just entering.

Coleman’s countenance changed.  He was now puzzled for a moment.  Then a bold plan suggested itself.  He would charge Luke with having stolen the money from him.

CHAPTER XXIX

MR. COLEMAN IS FOILED IN HIS ATTEMPT

Luke looked from Coleman to the clerk in some surprise.  He saw from their looks that they were discussing some matter which concerned him.

“You left some money in my charge yesterday, Mr. Larkin,” said the clerk.

“Yes.”

“Your friend here claims it.  Am I to give it to him?”