“We shall go back and call on Hernandez. In my official capacity, of course, I could not do this, but I’m willing to take a chance. We’ll search the house from top to bottom.”
They did not enter the home of Hernandez by the manner in which they had gone before. Dick led the way to the place he had seen Captain Von Blusen enter, and tried the door.
To his surprise it opened easily, and Dick, with weapon ready, led the way in. From first one room to the other they went, Consul Edwards lighting the way with a pocket searchlight.
Suddenly Dick stooped and picked up something. The consul turned the light on it. It was a small handkerchief. Dick looked it over for a mark of identification. In the corner he saw two initials, “S. W.”
He passed it to Mr. Willing.
“Shirley’s!” exclaimed the latter, after a glance at it.
“We are on the right track,” declared the consul.
They continued the search of the house, but not a soul could they find. From top to bottom and back again they went, but the result, of course, was the same.
At last they were forced to give it up.
“I have it!” exclaimed Dick suddenly. “Von Blusen warned them and they have taken the girls some place else.”