"If I do I'll let you know," the "warbler" replied. "Where are you stopping?" "At the Imperial," replied Bart. "You might telephone us if you hear anything of Ned." "I will. Come and have a glass of soda with me," John added, but the chums were too anxious to keep on with their search to accept, and, bidding the "warbler" good-bye they kept on. They got back to their rooms at noon, to find that William Perry was up and dressed, and impatient to go out. "I want to begin to help you," he said. "Did you see the clerk when you came in?" "No. Why?" asked Fenn. "He's anxious to tell you something. Says they opened a valise a fellow left here and he thinks it might contain a clew that would help you." "Maybe it's about Ned," suggested Bart. "Come on fellows." "What did you say the name of your missing friend was?" the clerk asked them, as the three chums hurried down to his desk. "Ned Wilding," answered Frank. "Why?" "You remember me telling you about that fellow who slipped down the fire escape rope and lost his valise?" the clerk asked. The boys said they did. "Well, we opened it to-day, and the collars are marked 'N. W.' I thought it might be a tip for you." "Let's see the things in the satchel," suggested Fenn. The clerk showed them to the chums. They had no difficulty in identifying as Ned's several articles in the valise. "Then that writing was his, after all!" exclaimed Frank. "Boys, we are on his track." "But where can he be?" asked Bart. "We only know he ran away from here. Why did he leave in that fashion? Had he done something he was afraid of?" "Perhaps he suddenly went--" began Frank, and then he stopped in seeming confusion. "What were you going to say?" asked Bart. "Nothing," Frank replied. "I made a mistake. I think we'd better tell the police about this." "That's so. I nearly forgot," the clerk added. "You are to go to police headquarters. A message came over the telephone a little while ago." "Perhaps they've found Ned!" exclaimed Bart for they had left the telephone number of their hotel with the sergeant at headquarters and the official had promised he would telephone if he had any news. "Hurry up!" cried Fenn. "Perhaps Ned is there waiting for us." "I only hope he is," Frank remarked, and the boys noticed he appeared gloomy and sad. "Wonder what ails Frank?" asked Bart of Fenn, as they went to their rooms to get their coats and hats. "A fit of the same old mysteriousness," replied Stumpy. "Don't notice him and it will pass over." "Let me go to headquarters with you," begged William. "I want to help." "Are you strong enough to go out?" asked Bart. "It's quite cold." "Oh I'm used to that," and the boy laughed. "But you--er--you have no overcoat," said Fenn, wishing when it was too late he had not mentioned it. "I'm used to that too," William replied. "Would you mind if we loaned you money enough to get a coat?" asked Bart. William thought for a moment.