Chapter XXXI. Mr. Wheeler Explains.

Cast Upon the Breakers

by Horatio Alger

Probably there was no one at the hotel who suspected Louis
Wheeler of being a thief except Rodney and Mr. Pettigrew. His action
in starting a contribution for John O'Donnell helped to make him
popular. He was establishing a reputation quite new to him, and it
was this fact probably that made him less prudent than he would
otherwise have been.

As the loss had been made up, the boarders at the Miners' Rest
ceased to talk of it. But Jefferson and his young assistant did not
forget it.

"I am sure Wheeler is the thief, but I don't know how to bring
it home to him," said Jefferson one day, when alone with Rodney.

"You might search him."

"Yes, but what good would that do? It might be found that he
had money, but one gold coin is like another and it would be
impossible to identify it as the stolen property. If O'Donnell had
lost anything else except money it would be different. I wish he
would come to my chamber."

"Perhaps he would if he thought you were a sound sleeper."

"That is an idea. I think I can make use of it.".

That evening when Wheeler was present Mr. Pettigrew managed to
turn the conversation to the subject of sleeping.

"I am a very sound sleeper," he said. "I remember when I was at
home sleeping many a time through a severe thunder storm."

"Don't you sometimes wake up in the middle of the night?" asked
Rodney.

"Very seldom, if I am in good health."

"Its different with me," said another of the company. "A step
on the floor or the opening of the door will wake me up at any
time."

"I am glad I am not so easily roused."

"If I had a fish horn," said Rodney, laughing, "I should be
tempted to come up in the night and give it a blast before your
door."

"That might wake me up," said Mr. Pettigrew. "I wouldn't advise
you to try it or the other boarders might get up an indignation
meeting."

The same evening Jefferson Pettigrew took out a bag of gold and
carelessly displayed it.

"Are you not afraid of being robbed, Mr. Pettigrew?" asked
Rodney.

"Oh no. I never was robbed in my life."

"How much money have you there?"

"I don't know exactly. Perhaps six hundred dollars," said
Pettigrew in an indifferent tone.

Among those who listened to this conversation with interest was
Louis Wheeler. Rodney did not fail to see the covetous gleam of his
eyes when the gold was displayed.

The fact was, that Wheeler was getting short of cash and at the
time he took John O'Donnell's money--for he was the thief--he had but
about twenty dollars left, and of this he contributed five to the
relief of the man he had robbed.

His theft realized him two hundred dollars, but this would not
last him long, as the expenses of living at the Miners' Rest were
considerable. He was getting tired of Oreville, but wanted to secure
some additional money before he left it. The problem was whom to
make his second victim.

It would not have occurred to him to rob Jefferson Pettigrew, of
whom he stood in wholesome fear, but for the admission that he was an
unusually sound sleeper; even then he would have felt uncertain
whether it would pay. But the display of the bag of money, and the
statement that it contained six hundred dollars in gold proved a
tempting bait.

"If I can capture that bag of gold," thought Wheeler, "I shall
have enough money to set me up in some new place. There won't be
much risk about it, for Pettigrew sleeps like a top. I will venture
it."

Jefferson Pettigrew's chamber was on the same floor as his own.
It was the third room from No. 17 which Mr. Wheeler occupied.

As a general thing the occupants of the Miners' Rest went to bed
early. Mining is a fatiguing business, and those who follow it have
little difficulty in dropping off to sleep. The only persons who
were not engaged in this business were Louis Wheeler and Rodney
Ropes. As a rule the hotel was closed at half past ten and before
this all were in bed and sleeping soundly.

When Wheeler went to bed he said to himself, "This will probably
be my last night in this tavern. I will go from here to Helena, and
if things turn out right I may be able to make my stay there
profitable. I shan't dare to stay here long after relieving
Pettigrew of his bag of gold."

Unlike Jefferson Pettigrew, Wheeler was a light sleeper. He had
done nothing to induce fatigue, and had no difficulty in keeping
awake till half past eleven. Then lighting a candle, he examined his
watch, and ascertained the time.

"It will be safe enough now," he said to himself.

He rose from his bed, and drew on his trousers. Then in his
stocking feet he walked along the corridor till he stood in front of
Jefferson Pettigrew's door. He was in doubt as to whether he would
not be obliged to pick the lock, but on trying the door he found that
it was not fastened. He opened it and stood within the chamber.

Cautiously he glanced at the bed. Mr. Pettigrew appeared to be
sleeping soundly.

"It's all right" thought Louis Wheeler. "Now where is the bag
of gold?"

It was not in open view, but a little search showed that the
owner had put it under the bed.

"He isn't very sharp," thought Wheeler. "He is playing right
into my hands. Door unlocked, and bag of gold under the bed. He
certainly is a very unsuspicious man. However, that is all the
better for me. Really there isn't much credit in stealing where all
is made easy for you."

There seemed to be nothing to do but to take the gold from its
place of deposit and carry it back to his own room. While there were
a good many lodgers in the hotel, there seemed to be little risk
about this, as every one was asleep.

Of course should the bag be found in his room that would betray
him, but Mr. Wheeler proposed to empty the gold coins into his
gripsack, and throw the bag out of the window into the back yard.

"Well, here goes!" said Wheeler cheerfully, as he lifted the
bag, and prepared to leave the chamber. But at this critical moment
an unexpected sound struck terror into his soul. It was the sound of
a key being turned in the lock.

Nervously Wheeler hastened to the door and tried it. It would
not open. Evidently it had been locked from the outside. What could
it mean?

At the same time there was a series of knocks on the outside of
the door. It was the signal that had been agreed upon between Mr.
Pettigrew and Rodney. Jefferson had given his key to Rodney, who had
remained up and on the watch for Mr. Wheeler's expected visit. He,
too, was in his stocking feet.

As soon as he saw Wheeler enter his friend's chamber he stole up
and locked the door on the outide. Then when he heard the thief
trying to open the door he rained a shower of knocks on the panel.

Instantly Jefferson Pettigrew sprang out of bed and proceeded to
act.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, seizing Wheeler in his
powerful grasp.

"Where am I?" asked Wheeler in a tone of apparent
bewilderment.

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Wheeler?" said Jefferson. "Don't you know
where you are?"

"Oh, it is my friend, Mr. Pettigrew. Is it possible I am in
your room?"

"It is very possible. Now tell me why you are here?"

"I am really ashamed to find myself in this strange position.
It is not the first time that I have got into trouble from walking in
my sleep."

"Oh, you were walking in your sleep!"

"Yes, friend Petttigrew. It has been a habit of mine since I
was a boy. But it seems very strange that I should have been led to
your room. How could I get in? Wasn't the door locked?"

"It is locked now?"

"It is strange! I don't understand it," said Wheeler, passing
his hand over his forehead.

"Perhaps you understand why you have that bag of gold in your
hand."

"Can it be possible?" ejaculated Wheeler in well counterfeited
surprise. "I don't know how to account for it."

"I think I can. Rodney, unlock the door and come in."

The key was turned in the lock, and Rodney entered with a
lighted candle in his hand.

"You see, Rodney, that I have a late visitor. You will notice
also that my bag of gold seems to have had an attraction for him."

"I am ashamed. I don't really know how to explain it except in
this way. When you displayed the gold last night it drew my
attention and I must have dreamed of it. It was this which drew me
unconsciously to your door. It is certainly an interesting fact in
mental science."

"It would have been a still more interesting fact if you had
carried off the gold."

"I might even have done that in my unconsciousness, but of
course I should have discovered it tomorrow morning and would have
returned it to you."

"I don't feel by any means sure of that. Look here, Mr.
Wheeler, if that is your name, you can't pull the wool over my eyes.
You are a thief, neither more nor less."

"How can you misjudge me so, Mr. Pettigrew?"

"Because I know something of your past history. It is clear to
me now that you were the person that stole John O'Donnell's
money."

"Indeed, Mr. Pettigrew."

"It is useless to protest. How much of it have you left?"

Louis Wheeler was compelled to acknowledge the theft, and
returned one hundred dollars to Jefferson Pettigrew.

"Now," said Jefferson, "I advise you to leave the hotel at once.
If the boys find out that you are a thief you will stand a chance of
being lynched. Get out!"

The next morning Jefferson Pettigrew told the other boarders
that Louis Wheeler had had a sudden call East, and it was not for a
week that he revealed to them the real reason of Wheeler's
departure.