Dave went down stairs and into the office on the second floor of the building. A lot of loungers were sitting around on benches and a new clerk was behind the desk.
“Is the young man here who was on duty last night?” inquired Dave, returning the room key.
“I just relieved him,” was the reply. “He’s gone home to sleep.”
“He gave me room 58,” went on Dave. “There was a boy in one of the beds. These clothes are his.”
“Hey?” ejaculated the man, with a stare.
“Yes, sir. He’s taken mine. I shouldn’t think you would allow such characters in here.”
The man shrugged his shoulders indifferently. He pointed to a sign behind the desk. It informed roomers that the house was not responsible for thefts.
“If you had anything valuable in your clothes,” advised the man, “you should have left it in our safe.”
The speaker pointed to a box with a padlock behind him. Dave decided that he could place little reliance in either the man or his strong box.
“I did lose something valuable,” he cried, smarting under his lost.