Abe turned to the tattered register.
"Booked in yesterday," he said, thumbing down the page which contained the list of a whole year's guests. "Ah—paid," he added, running his eye across to the "remarks" column. "Guess he's gone. I'd say that perfume was a parting gift to his lady friend, Pete."
"And who may she be?" inquired Angus, innocently turning the page of his paper.
No one answered him. An exchange of glances went round the room, carefully leaving the manager out.
Presently Angus looked up.
"Eh?" he demanded.
Abe cleared his throat.
"Guess I don't know of any female running loose around here. They've most all got local beaus," he said, while he shifted his position uncomfortably.
Sid caught his eye and shook his head.
"Can't say," he observed. "I see him once with a gal. They wer' a long piece off. She was tall an'—an' upstandin'. Didn't just recognize her."