any great importance at this time,"
replied Marsh.

"I thought I would come up and look things over," explained Hunt, as
he strolled over to the desk and ran his fingers through the papers.
The two men watched him with keen attention.

"Seems to be nothing here outside of personal correspondence," said
Hunt, turning around.

"Yes," Morgan answered, "those letters appear to be of a very
ordinary character. As far as I can see, there is nothing there that
would help us."

"I presume you are working along other lines also?" inquired Hunt.

"Surely," said Morgan. "We have several men on the case now."

"And what have you found, Mr. Marsh?" inquired Hunt.

"Nothing that gives me a lead so far. I will report to you as soon
as anything comes to light."

"Better come to my home some evening," Hunt suggested. "We can talk
in greater privacy than at the office. You will find my address in
the telephone directory. By the way, I believe you neglected to give
me your address this morning, and I do not find your name in the
telephone book."

"That's right," exclaimed Marsh. "I believe I did neglect to do
that." Marsh went over to the desk, tore off the corner of a sheet
of paper, and wrote down his new address and telephone number. "Here
it is," he said, handing the paper to Hunt. "My name would not be in
the telephone book as my work necessitates frequent changes of
address. One month I am liable to be in California and the next in
Europe. For the present, however, you will be able to get word to me
at the address I have given you. Naturally, I will seldom be there,
but you can always leave word for me to get in touch with you." Then
Marsh turned to Morgan. "We'd better be moving along," he said.

"Yes," agreed Morgan, "there's nothing more to be gained here."

After exchanging a few commonplace words with Hunt, the two
detectives went out, leaving Hunt in the room. Downstairs, in the
lobby, Marsh said, "I strongly suspect that Hunt wanted to be left
alone in that room. That's why I hurried you away. The sooner he
gets through up there, the quicker he will leave the hotel. I don't
want him around while I am looking up the rest of my information.
Now, you watch the Madison Street entrance, while I stand across the
street on La Salle. When he leaves, the one that sees him will let
the other know."

The two men then separated and took up their watch.

Hunt must have made a careful examination of Merton's rooms, because