"Where in the world----" he began. "Oh, I know, I left it here." "What?" "My watch. I called to you about it when I went out to the telephone, and----" "It isn't here. I looked." "What!" "Fact! Unless you stuck it in something." "No, I left it right on my dresser, on a pile of clean handkerchiefs--hello, where'd these come from?" and he looked at the ones Andy had bought of Ikey. "Oh, another bargain from our mutual friend," and Andy mentioned the price. "That is a bargain, all right. I must get some. But look here, where's my watch?" "I'm sure I don't know. Did you leave it here?" "I certainly did. I remember now, I put it on the pile of handkerchiefs just before I went to last lecture. Then I came in here, to go out to keep my date, and I didn't have it. I was going to slip it in my pocket when I was called to the 'phone. Look here, here's the impression of it in the handkerchiefs," and Dunk pointed to a round depression in the pile of soft linen squares. It was just the shape of a watch. "It was there," said Dunk slowly, looking at Andy. "And now it's gone," finished his roommate. Then he remembered several things, and his start of surprise made Dunk look at his chum in a strange way. "What's the matter?" asked Dunk. "I'll tell you in a minute," said Andy. "I want to think a bit." CHAPTER XXVI THE GIRLS "Well?" asked Dunk, after a pause, during which Andy had sat staring at the fireplace. A blaze had been kindled there, but it had died down, and now there was only a mere flicker. "Are you sure you left your watch on that pile of handkerchiefs?" asked Andy, slowly. "Dead sure. I remember it because I thought at the time that I was a chump to treat that ticker the way I did, and I made up my mind I'd get a good chain for it and have my watch pocket lined with chamois leather. That's what made me think of it--the softness of the handkerchiefs. Why, Andy, you can see the imprint of it plainly enough." "Yes, I guess you're right." "And it's gone." "Right again." "Were you in the room all the time I was out?" "Most all the while. I went to get a new electric lamp for the one that had burned out." "Was anyone here besides you?" Andy hesitated. Then he answered: "Yes, two persons." "Who?" "Ikey Stein----" "That----" Andy held up a warning hand. "Don't call any names," he advised. "Ikey did you and me a good service. We mustn't forget that." "All right, I won't. Who else was in here?" "Link Bardon." "Who's he?" "That farmer lad I was telling you about--the one we fellows saved from a beating." "Oh, yes. I remember." "He's working here now. He came in to borrow some money. I found him here when I came back--our door was open." "By Jove! That lock! I meant to get it fixed. Well, I can see what happened. The quadrangle mystery deepens, and I'm elected. The beggar got my watch!" Dunk started out. "Where are you going?" asked Andy.