Brother Washington's sympathies were at once enlisted, however, when he scented a romance, for John became more confidential in this than in any of his prior visitations, in his desire to propitiate. But his search was fruitless here as elsewhere, and he went away convinced that Brother Washington had not tampered with the pocket. He went on to the house of the Reverend James Woodville, who had performed the marriage ceremony at the nuptials of Mrs. Jimmels, nee Hubbleston. In this instance also no pocket had been discovered in the garment, so John wended his discouraged way to the office of the Barlow Theatre. Mr. Vedder was likewise surprised to learn that surplices possessed pockets. The young rector's face brightened at the next name on his list--Pete Noyes. Of course a boy and a pocket would not long remain unacquainted. Again he was doomed to disappointment. Pete's dismay when he learned that there had been an overlooked pocket was convincingly genuine. "You see," he explained, "I wore it over my pants, of course, and I had the pockets in them, so I didn't look for no more." Pete escorted the rector to the "Vawdyville," and by good fortune the clerical impersonator in the sketch was still on the board, though in a different act. He instantly and decidedly disclaimed all knowledge of a pocket. "It's like that game," grinned Pete. "Button, button, who's got the button?" "Yes," agreed John, with a sigh, "only in this case I fear I shall continue to be 'it.'" The brakeman, when he came in from his run, was located and he joined in the blockade that was conspiring against John's future happiness. The clothes-line thief was very sensitive on the subject, and felt greatly aggrieved that he should be accused of picking his own pocket, for he protested that he had "found" the garment. The fancied insinuation indeed was so strongly resented that John wondered if it might not be a proverbial case of "hit birds flutter." Neither police nor court of justice had examined the pocket; nor had they been aware of the existence of one. The bishop could throw no light on the missing article, and this call ended the successless tour of investigation. "It was truly a profitable investment for the Jenkins family," thought John, "but a sorry one for me." Having now wended his weary and unavailing way into all the places listed, John made his final report to Colette who remained adamant in her resolve. "Of course some of those people did find it," she maintained. "It stands to reason they must have done so, and it is up to you now to find out which one of them is the guilty person." "How can I find that out, Colette?" "How? Anyhow!" she replied, her mien betraying great triumph at her powers of logic. "It must be found!" she asserted with a distinct air of finality. "And until it is found--" She stopped abruptly.