"Yes, we went down-stairs a little while ago. We were going out to the barn, and that's why I wanted my overcoat and cap. They seem to be gone, and I don't know what to make of it;" and now Dave's face showed increased anxiety. "What's the trouble?" came from Jessie, and then Laura closed the door again. Dave heard some conversation between all of the girls, and then between Laura and Mrs. Renwick. Then his sister came to the door once more. "None of us touched your cap or overcoat, Dave," she said. "Isn't it queer? Do you suppose they have been stolen?" "I hope not, Laura. I'm going down and see the hotel proprietor about it." The proprietor of the hostelry was not on hand, but his son, a young fellow of about Dave's age, was behind the desk, and he listened with interest to what our hero had to say. Then he, too, instituted a search for the missing things. "I can't understand this any more than you can," he announced, after this additional search had proved a failure. "I didn't know we had any thieves around here. Are you sure you left the coat and cap on this rack?" "Yes, I am positive," announced Dave. "I saw him do it, when I placed my own things on the same 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.