As Robert was approaching his boarding house he ran into Livingston Palmer, valise in hand, bound for the theater.
"I'm off," said Palmer. "Our company leaves town to-day."
"Have you struck anything yet?" asked Palmer curiously.
"I have and I haven't. I've got a letter from Mr. Marden requesting me to come to Timberville in Michigan."
"It wouldn't suit me to bury myself in such a hole."
"I don't know that I will stay there any great length of time. I am to go up on a little private business."
"I see. Well, I must hurry. What time have you?"
"Hullo! Do you mean to say you've had to pawn it already. I thought you were one of the saving kind, to look out for a rainy day."
"Yes, and some of my money went with it."
"That's too bad, Robert," and Palmer's face was full of real sympathy.
"I would loan you some money if I had it. But the truth is, I'm broke excepting for a couple of dollars that Jack Dixon advanced me on my salary."
"Thank you, Livingston, but I am not quite broke, even if I have been robbed."
"I'm glad to hear it. Now I am off, or I will be left behind."
And with a hearty grasp of Robert's hand the would-be actor hurried down the street. Robert gazed after him meditatingly.
"I hope his engagement proves all he wishes," he thought. "But I am afraid he is running up against a tremendous disappointment."
Retiring to his room, Robert wrote a long letter to Dick Marden, telling of the receipt of the money orders and of his interview with Herman Wenrich. He also mentioned Le Fevre and Hammerditch and asked for the order from Felix Amberton for the map. At first he thought to put in about the stolen money and the watch, but then reconsidered the matter.
"I'll wait, since the map is not to be paid for," he said to himself. "Perhaps the police will catch the sharpers. If the worst comes to the worst I guess I can scrape up enough money to take me to Timberville without applying to Mr. Marden for more."
The letter finished, Robert went down to the post-office to post it. There now seemed nothing to do but to wait, and he returned to his boarding house worn out with the exertions of the day.
A good sleep made the youth feel much better, and while he was eating his breakfast he began to deliberate upon what to do during the time in which he would have to wait for an answer from his miner friend.