“Anything else?”
“Do you mean anything else stolen? Not that I am aware of, but the papers are very important. I thought you ought to come on, as you seemed to know something of the matter.”
“I am afraid I don’t, but I’m interested. You say there’s been no abduction, or kidnaping?”
“I didn’t say so, but I know of no such case.”
“Well, tell me all you know about the loss of the papers.”
“That’s very little. The lieutenant governor called me up late on the night you telegraphed me. In fact, I think it was about two hours after I had sent my answer.
“‘Dinsmore,’ said he, ‘there’s been a very strange robbery, or something that looks very much like it. Some papers that cannot be of value to ordinary thieves, but for which the government would pay a handsome reward, have disappeared.’”
“I asked him when they were taken.
“‘I’ve no idea,’ he answered. ‘I only discovered the loss this afternoon.’
“Then I asked him why he had not called on me sooner.