"That's a gas-heater--Mr. Davenport made me a present of it. It's
convenienter than the old stove. He wanted to pay me fur the gas it
burned when he was here sketchin', but I wouldn't stand fur that."
The ropey, rubbery something was the tube connecting the heater with the
gas-fixture.
"I move we light 'er up, and make the place comfortable; then we can talk
this matter over," continued Mr. Bud. "Shet the door, an' siddown."
Seated in the waves of warmth from the gas-stove, the two went into the
details of the case.
Larcher not withholding the theory of Mr. Lafferty, and even touching
briefly on Davenport's misunderstanding as to Florence Kenby.
"Well," said Mr. Bud, thoughtfully, "if he reely went into a hallway in
these parts, it would prob'ly be the hallway he was acquainted with. But
he wouldn't stay in the hallway. He'd prob'ly come to this room. An' he'd
no doubt bring his parcels here. But one thing's certain: if he did that,
he took 'em all away again. He might 'a' left somethin' in the closet, or
under the bed, or somewheres."
A search was made of the places named, as well as of drawers and
wash-stand, but Mr. Bud found no additions to his property. He even
looked in the coal-box,--and stooped and fished something out, which he
held up to the light. "Hello, I don't reco'nize this!"
Larcher uttered an exclamation. "He _has_ been here! That's the note-book
cover the money was in. He had it the night before he was last seen.
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