en. "We've
hunted everywhere for them."

"Didn't you take them up-stairs last night?" questioned Phil.

"No, I left them on this rack. And Ben left his things here, too,"
replied Dave. "I can't understand it at all;" and he looked worried.

"Maybe Laura saw them and took them upstairs, thinking they wouldn't
be safe here," suggested Roger.

"I hardly think that, Roger. However, as the coat and cap are not
here, maybe I'd better ask her."

Another search for the missing things followed, Dave looking through
the parlor and the other rooms on the ground floor of the hotel, and
even peeping into the restaurant, where a number of folks were at
breakfast. Then he went upstairs and knocked softly on the door of the
room which Laura and Jessie were occupying.

"Who is it?" asked his sister, in a somewhat sleepy tone of voice.

"It's I, Laura," answered her brother. "I want to know if you brought
my cap and overcoat upstairs last night."

"Why, no, Dave, I didn't touch them. What is the matter--can't you
find them?"

"No, and I've hunted high and low," he returned. "I don't suppose any
of the other girls or the doctor touched them?"

"I am quite sure they did not." Laura came to the door and peeped out
at him. "Are you boys all up already?"

"Yes, we went down-stairs a little while ago. We were going out to the
barn, and that's why I wanted my overcoat and cap. They seem to be
gone, and I don't know what to make of it;" and now Dave's face showed
increased anxiety.

"What's the trouble?" came from Jessie, and then Laura closed the door
again. Dave heard some conversation between all of the girls, and then
between Laura and Mrs. Renwick. Then his sister came to the door once
more.

"None of us touched your cap or overcoat, Dave," she said. "Isn't it
queer? Do you suppose they have been stolen?"

"I hope not, Laura. I'm going down and see the hotel proprietor about
it."

The proprietor of the hostelry was not on hand, but his son, a young
fellow of about Dave's age, was behind the desk, and he listened with
interest to what our hero had to say. Then he, too, instituted a
search for the missing things.

"I can't understand this any more than you can," he announced, after
this additional search had proved a failure. "I didn't know we had any
thieves around here. Are you sure you left the coat and cap on this
rack?"

"Yes, I am positive," announced Dave.

"I saw him do it, when I placed my own things on the s