“Changes? What changes should I want to make? Your words are an insult, Graves, and if it were not for your evident sincerity I’d start making the changes right here and now. No, I want no changes! Bring all the world along, and let them see me searched in public.”
“You carry it with a high hand, my young friend,” said Graves. “However, I can do no more than warn you. Shall we go now? There should be at least one other present.”
“Mr. Gardiner has just gone down to Goode’s with some butter. We will detain him as a witness, if you think it necessary,” was Burton’s reply; “come, I am ready.”
The two young men walked down the street, thronged with buggies, wagons and automobiles, until they reached Mrs. Goode’s boarding-house. At the door they met Gardiner.
“Mr. Gardiner, will you do me a favour? I find that I have been working alongside of a detective, instead of a store clerk, as I imagined. He has a warrant to search my room. Will you come along, as a witness?”
“Why, yes, if you ask me to. This is a surprise for me. Graves, you need not report for work to-morrow morning.”
The three went up to room sixteen. As they were about to enter Polly Lester came out. “I was just finishing tidying up,” she explained to Mr. Gardiner. Since the night at the river Burton had not spoken to her nor recognised her existence.
The detective began with Burton’s clothes. He searched all the pockets and felt the fabric generally to ascertain if anything might be quilted into it. Then he examined the bed, feeling the pillows and mattress very carefully. Then the washstand and bureau received attention, but without revealing anything of moment.
“There is only the trunk left,” said Graves. “Will you let me have the key?”
“Go ahead; it isn’t locked,” Burton returned. “I wish you joy of all you find.”
Each article in the trunk was lifted out and set on the bed, carefully. Graves was at least a thorough workman. At last there were only a few items in the bottom of the trunk, and Gardiner was about congratulating Burton, when the detective cried, “Hello, what have we here?”
Both spectators rushed to his side. At the very bottom of the trunk lay a large envelope, on which two large wax seals were visible.