udents on that floor, they using the store room for
the accumulation that could not be crowded into their own apartments.

"A regular junk heap," commented Frank. "But where the mischief did that
fellow go who was in my room?"

"It _is_ sort of queer," admitted Andy, as he looked down. Without
intending to do so he noticed that Mortimer did not wear rubber-soled
shoes, but had on a heavy pair that would have made noise enough down
the corridor had he hurried along the passage.

"Maybe you dreamed it," suggested Mortimer. "I didn't see anything of
anyone coming down here, and I was in that closet some time, rummaging
away."

"Must have been pretty warm in there--with the door closed," suggested
Dunk.

"It was hot. The door swung shut when I was away back in a corner trying
to fish out that bat, and I didn't want to climb back and open it. Well,
I guess I'll go clean up. I'm all dust."

Truth to tell, he was rather disheveled, his clothes being spotted in
several places with dust and cobwebs, while his face and hands were also
soiled.

"Well, I guess he fooled us," commented Andy. "I can't understand it,
though. We came down this hall right after him, and there's no stairway
going up or down from this end. How could he give us the slip?"

"Easily enough," said Mortimer. "He could have slid into some empty
room, locked the door on the inside and waited until you fellows rushed
past. Then he could come out and go down the stairs behind you without
you seeing him."

"That's what he did then, all right," decided Dunk. "We might as well
give it up. Report your loss, Frank."

"Yes, I will. Whew! Another quadrangle robbery to add to the list. I
wonder when this thing will stop?"

No one could answer him. Mortimer switched off the light in the store
room, remarking that he'd have another look for the bat later. Then he
accompanied Andy and the others on their way back down the corridor.
Gaffington departed to his own dormitory, while Frank went to report to
the Dean, and Andy and Dunk turned into their room.

"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Andy.

"I don't know," responded his roommate. "Mortimer's explanation seems to
cover it."

"All the same we'll leave our door open, on the chance that the thief
may still be hiding in some empty room, and will try to sneak out,"
suggested Andy.

"Sure, that's good enough."

But, though they watched for some time, no one came down the corridor
past their room but t