ame rack,"
declared Ben.

"But you found your coat and cap all right?"

"Yes."

"It's mighty queer," declared the young clerk, shaking his head. "I
guess I'd better tell my father about this."

The hotel proprietor was called, and he at once instituted a number of
inquiries concerning the missing things. But all these proved of no
avail. No one had taken Dave's wearing apparel, and none of the hired
help had seen any one else take the things or wear them.

"You should have taken your things up to your room last night,"
declared the hotel proprietor, during the course of the search. "It's
a bad idea to leave things on a rack like this, with so many strangers
coming and going all the time."

He agreed to lend Dave a coat and a hat, and, donning these, the youth
walked through the little shelter leading to the stables, accompanied
by his chums.

"If those things are not recovered I think you can hold the hotel man
responsible," remarked Roger.

"Just what I think," put in Ben. "That overcoat was a pretty nice one,
Dave; and the cap was a peach."

"I'll see what can be done, in case the things don't turn up,"
returned our hero.

They found Washington Bones down among the stablemen, taking care of
his horses.

"Well, Wash, what are the prospects for getting away this morning?"
questioned Roger.

"Ain't no prospects, so far as I kin see," declared the colored
driver. "This suah am one terrible sto'm. I neber seen the like befo'
aroun' heah."

"Then you don't think we're going to get back to Crumville to-day?"
questioned Ben.

"No-sir. Why, if we was to try it we'd suah git stuck befo' we got out
ob dis town. Some ob de drifts is right to de top of de fust story ob
de houses." Washington Bones looked questioningly at Dave. "How did
you like your trip outside las' night?" he queried. "Must ha' been
some walkin', t'rough sech deep snow."

"My trip outside?" questioned Dave, with a puzzled look. "What do you
mean, Wash? I didn't go out last night."

"You didn't!" exclaimed the colored driver in wonder. "Didn't I see
you leavin' de hotel las' night 'bout half pas' 'levin or a little
later?"

"You certainly did not. I was in bed and sound asleep by half past
eleven," answered Dave.

"Well now, don't dat beat all!" cried the colored man, his eyes
rolling in wonder. "I went outside jest to take a las' look aroun'
befo' turning in, and I seen a young fellow and a man leavin' de
hotel. Dey come right pas' wh