“I’m not the agent,” replied Larry, with a smile, and then, for fear the contractor might ask other questions, which would be hard to answer under the circumstances, the young reporter hurried away.
“Let’s see,” he murmured, as he walked up the street. “I think the next move will be to apply at the boarding-house. Maybe the landlady will answer some questions that will help me solve the mystery.”
Larry found the boarding mistress pleasant enough. She doubtless thought she saw in the young reporter a prospective lodger.
“Yes,” she said, in answer to his questions, “I have several vacant rooms, and my rates are reasonable.”
“Are there other young men here?” asked Larry.
“Oh, yes, several. I have one bank clerk——”
“Mr. Witherby?” interrupted the reporter.
“Yes; how did you know?”
“Oh, I have met him in New York,” replied Larry evasively. “Perhaps you would show me some of your rooms.”
The landlady was willing, and soon was escorting our hero through the house.