t his appearance yet."
"I've got his photograph, and will show it to you after supper."
"Oh, thank you!" said Bert, much pleased.
"That is, if you are sure it won't do him any harm. He used to talk to
me very confidentially, and I can't help liking him, even if he did get
in debt to ma."
"Perhaps he was unfortunate and couldn't pay."
"That's what I tell ma, but ma's rather severe on boarders that go away
without paying her."
"Did he take all his baggage with him, Miss Stubbs?"
"He left behind a box of books and papers. They weren't of much
account--some old letters and such."
"Did your mother preserve them?" asked Bert eagerly.
"Yes, I believe so; but she would have preferred to have him leave his
trunk. That might have been sold for a part of his board bill."
"Do you think I could look over the books and papers?" asked Bert.
"What for?" inquired Angelica, her face expressing curiosity.
"You know I want to find him, and some of the papers might throw light
on his movements."
"I don't know but you could," answered Angelica indifferently.
"I'll be willing to pay your mother one week's board for the box and its
contents."
"Then I am sure she will let you have them. They are worth nothing to
her. I only wonder she hasn't used them to kindle the fire with before
now."
"I hope she hasn't," returned Bert anxiously.
"No; I know she hasn't, for I saw them in the attic only last week. I'll
look them up for you some day when I am at leisure."
"Thank you."
"I wonder Mr. Harding hasn't written to you," he said, a little later.
"Oh, go along! You don't suppose there was anything between me and him?"
said Angelica, who liked nothing better than to be teased about the
attentions of members of the other sex. Bert was sharp enough to see
this, and thought he might make it available in promoting the object he
had in view.
"I thought, perhaps, he had gone away because you didn't smile upon his
suit."
Miss Angelica laughed and tossed her head in great delight.
"As if I would tell you," she said.
"I only hope he hasn't committed suicide."
"Oh, Mr. Barton, how can you? Really, I shall have to complain to ma."
All this was very amusing to Bert, who had a natural love of fun, and
quite understood Angelica by this time, though, truth to tell, she was
not difficult to read.
When supper was over, Miss Stubbs said graciously: "Mr. Barton, if you
are not pressed for time, will you linger
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