Page:The House On The Cliff.pdf/110

104 ing earnestly. The boys were almost up to them before the woman caught sight of them and spoke warningly to the red-headed man.

"What do you want now?" demanded Redhead, in a surly manner, as he advanced.

"We want to know about that cap in the kitchen," said Frank firmly.

"What cap? There's no cap in there."

"There isn't now—but there was. It's a grey cap and it was hanging in there when I went in for a drink."

"I don't know anythin' about no cap," persisted Redhead.

"Perhaps you want us to ask the police up to help us find out," put in Tony Prito cheerfully.

Redhead glanced meaningly at the woman. The other man stepped forward.

"I know the cap he means," he said. "It's mine. What about it?"

"It isn't yours, and you know it," declared Frank. "That cap belongs to the man we're looking for."

"I tell you it is my cap," snapped the swarthy man, showing his yellow teeth in a snarl. "Don't tell me I'm lying."

Redhead stepped forward diplomatically.

"You're mistaken, Klein," he said. "I know the cap they mean. That's the one I found on the road a few days ago."