The afternoon he had to himself, and a part of this he spent in trying to find out what he could about Ralph Harding. He learned that Harding had been employed in the shoe factory of Benedict & Co. Two of Mrs. Stubbs's boarders worked at the same place, but neither had been intimate with Harding. Bert learned that he was looked upon as "a rolling stone," never content to remain long in one place. He had been employed less than six months at the Benedict shop, when, without assigning any reason, he gave notice that he wanted to leave. "What sort of a man is he?" asked Bert. "He is restless and at times gloomy," answered Blanchard, to whom he had put the question. "I worked next to him, but he seldom made any conversation with me." "Was he a good workman?" "Excellent, but he evidently did not like the business. He often lamented that he had not the means of getting out of it." "Have you any idea where he went when he left Harrisburg?" "From what I have heard him say, I think it probable that he went to some Western town or city." "You have not heard from him since he left Harrisburg?" "No; he was not likely to correspond with me. I doubt if he was intimate enough with any one here to do so, except possibly with Miss Stubbs," added Blanchard, with a smile. "She tells me Mr. Harding paid her a good deal of attention." "It is more probable that Miss Stubbs paid him a good deal of attention. At present you are her favorite." "I don't want to interfere with you, Mr. Blanchard," said Bert, much amused. "I can't undertake to compete with an actor, Mr. Barton." "I can't get over my surprise at being called an actor. However, as long as it pays me better than anything else, I don't object." The next day Mrs. Stubbs intercepted Bert as he was leaving the house. "My daughter tells me," she said, "that you are willing to pay four dollars for the papers which Mr. Harding left behind him?" "Yes," answered Bert eagerly. "I don't see why I shouldn't sell them. I can't afford to lose eight weeks' board." "Quite true, Mrs. Stubbs. I don't see why they won't be just as safe in my hands as in yours." "You don't want to do Mr. Harding any harm; though I don't know why I should think of that, after the way he has served me!" "Instead of that, Mrs. Stubbs, I can assure you that it will be money in his pocket, if, through his papers, I am able to find him." "And in that case you will try to get him to pay his honest debts?" "I will, Mrs. Stubbs." "Then, Mr. Barton, if you will come up to the attic I will hand you the papers." Bert gladly followed Mrs. Stubbs upstairs, and was shown on the attic floor a wooden box about half full of old letters and other papers. The box certainly did not look very valuable, and Bert said so.