Page:On to Pekin.djvu/136

114 Gilbert; and, thrusting the empty envelope in his pocket, he hurried off.

He was thoroughly angry, and bent on hunting up Nuggy Polk and having it out with the young man. He had seen Nuggy at the stern of the transport, smoking, and had no doubt that he would still find the young man there.

But, half-way on his rapid walk toward the stem, Gilbert came to a sudden halt. What if Polk should deny everything, and what if the rascal had destroyed the written pages? He could not prove the young man guilty, and such an action would only let Polk know that he had discovered the deception. Would it not be better to let the fellow imagine that his plan to outwit his opponent had proved successful?

"I'll let him rest, and write another letter in secret—and take good care that that goes," said Gilbert to himself. "And in the second letter I'll tell Branders how the first letter was stolen, and that he must be on his guard against the Polks and anybody who represents them."

With Gilbert to think was to act, in this case; and, without losing a second more, he rushed off to one of the desks in the ship's libraiy, secured several sheets