On the way the young photographer kept his eyes wide open for Casco, but saw nothing of the scar-faced man. Arriving at Raymond’s hotel, he found the place to consist of a long, two-story building, with an addition in the rear running down to the edge of a brook. A dim lamp, swinging from a post by the stepping-block, lit up the exterior of the hotel. A light also shone from the bar-room, and sounds of boisterous laughing reached the youth’s ears.
“They must keep the place wide open all night,” thought Bob. “I think I will take a look around before I go in.”
Having inspected the front part of the hotel, Bob passed around one side and then to the back.
Here was situated the kitchen, and, coming closer, Bob heard two persons conversing in low tones.
One was a man, evidently a stable-hand, and the other a woman-of-all-work.
“What kept you so long, Ike?” asked the woman of the man, who had evidently just come in.
“The boss wanted me to look out for the billiard-room for a while.”
“Why, where is Dick?”
“Tendin’ bar. He had to do it cos the boss had a visitor just now, an’ he had to show the feller a room.”
“A visitor this time of night? Who was it, any of the old ones?”