The clerk returned to the office with Luke.  Coleman eyed them uneasily, as if he suspected them of having been engaged in a conspiracy against him.

“Well,” he said, “are you going to give me my money?”

“State the amount,” said the clerk, in a businesslike manner.

“I have already told you that I can’t state exactly.  I handed the money to Luke without counting it.”

“You must have some idea, at any rate,” said the clerk.

“Of course I have.  There was somewhere around seventy-five dollars.”

This he said with a confidence which he did not feel, for it was, of course, a mere guess.

“You are quite out in your estimate, Mr. Coleman.  It is evident to me that you have made a false claim.  You will oblige me by settling your bill and leaving the hotel.”

“Do you think I will submit to such treatment?” demanded Coleman, furiously.

“I think you’ll have to,” returned the clerk, quietly.  “You can go in to breakfast, if you like, but you must afterward leave the hotel.  John,” this to a bellboy, “go up to number forty-seven and bring down this gentleman’s luggage.”

“You and the boy are in a conspiracy against me!” exclaimed Coleman, angrily.  “I have a great mind to have you both arrested!”

“I advise you not to attempt it.  You may get into trouble.”

Coleman apparently did think better of it.  Half an hour later he left the hotel, and Luke found himself alone.  He decided that he must be more circumspect hereafter.

CHAPTER XXX

A DISCOVERY

Luke was in Chicago, but what to do next he did not know.  He might have advertised in one or more of the Chicago papers for James Harding, formerly in the employ of John Armstrong, of New York, but if this should come to the knowledge of the party who had appropriated the bonds, it might be a revelation of the weakness of the case against them.  Again, he might apply to a private detective, but if he did so, the case would pass out of his hands.

Luke had this piece of information to start upon.  He had been informed that Harding left Mr. Armstrong’s employment June 17, 1879, and, as was supposed, at once proceeded West.  If he could get hold of a file of some Chicago daily paper for the week succeeding, he might look over the last arrivals, and ascertain at what hotel Harding had stopped.  This would be something.

“Where can I examine a file of some Chicago daily paper for 1879, Mr. Lawrence?” he asked of the clerk.

“Right here,” answered the clerk.  “Mr. Goth, the landlord, has a file of the Times for the last ten years.”

“Would he let me examine the volume for 1879?” asked Luke, eagerly.

“Certainly.  I am busy just now, but this afternoon I will have the papers brought down to the reading-room.”

He was as good as his word, and at three o’clock in the afternoon Luke sat down before a formidable pile of papers, and began his task of examination.