y
suspected the Garden View would be small simply because none of them
had ever heard of it.

"You're right," Scotty agreed. "A place like that wouldn't have a
bellhop."

Rick searched for an idea. "You wouldn't know his signature on the
register, would you. Cap'n?"

"Never seen him sign his name."

"Why couldn't one of us be a relative looking for him?" Jerry offered.

"Say, that's an idea!" Scotty exclaimed. "We could pretend he's a
little cracked and describe him. The clerk would know who we meant,
and he'd probably be glad to tell us, because hotels don't like
having people who might be a little bit off."

"Cap'n Mike could do it," Rick said. "Cap'n, couldn't you pretend to
be his brother?"

"Sure I could. Well, what are we waiting for? Do I go alone?"

"I'll go with you," Rick offered.

"Jerry and I had better wait, then," Scotty said. "It might look funny
if four of us came trooping in like a chowder-and-marching club."

Jerry spoke up. "That's okay, except don't forget I'm to talk with him
if he has anything to say. Have to get an interview for the paper."

"We'll bring him down," Rick promised confidently. "Let's go, Cap'n."

The stairs leading up into the hotel were creaky with age, and the
accumulation of dust and dirt showed months without a broom. At the
top of the stairs was what had once been quite a nice lobby. But now
the rug was worn to strings and the wallpaper had acquired a glaze of
dirt that made it look like ancient newspapers. Behind the scarred
ruin of an oak counter stood a clerk so fat Rick wondered how the
floor could support him. He was reading a comic book, and he didn't
even look up as they came in.

Cap'n Mike addressed him politely. "Excuse me, sir. I wonder if you
can help me?"

Tired eyes looked up from the comic book. "What can I do for you?" The
words and tone were surprisingly courteous.

"I'm looking for my brother," Cap'n Mike said. "He's a man about my
height, five years younger, still a lot of black in his hair. Red
complexion, pretty well lined. Smokes a corncob pipe. His real name is
Killian, but I don't think you'd know him by that." He touched his
head significantly. "Mind is going. He thinks he's being persecuted."

"What makes you think he might be here?"

Cap'n Mike's expressive face assumed a look of infinite sadness.
"Once, many years ago, he spent his honeymoon here. Lost his wife
shortly after in an auto crash, but since his mind went he won't
be