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Rh ing the drawers of the dresser, but they as well as the desk and closet had been stripped bare.

"Dad and old Titheredge carted off everything but the clothes," explained Gene. "Aunt Effie packed those away in the attic, I think. I know she didn't give them away."

He laughed shortly in a rueful manner and Odell demanded:

"Why? How do you know?"

"Because she never gave a thing away in her life. She hoards everything she can lay her hands on."

Odell allowed the comment to pass without remark, but he stored it away for further reference. If true, it threw an interesting side-light on the character of the mouse-like spinster downstairs. She did not look like a miser, and her apparent attitude toward the rest of the family was that of a typical poor relation; yet she must possess money. She owned at least a half interest in the house in which she lived like a veritable shadow.

After a further cursory examination of the room he motioned Gene to precede him to the hall, and locking the door he placed the key in his pocket.

"Where does Farley Drew live?" he asked.

In the Bellemonde Annex," Gene responded unguardedly, then added: "For God's sake, don't go to him with anything of this, Sergeant. He—he hates anything like notoriety, and he can make a lot of trouble."

"For whom?" Odell demanded as the other paused.

"Oh, well, I don't want to lose his friendship," Gene mumbled. "It isn't fair to drag other people into a rotten scandal like this; and they're bound to resent it. Besides,