“Sure they might, but I know one who doesn’t make many,” he said, and Josie blushed in spite of herself. Praise from the chief was pleasant to hear.
“I’ll have to confess that I have had the place gone over myself by two trusted and highly efficient detectives,” he added, “and, after combing it with a fine-tooth comb, they report there is no sign of treasure or papers or anything to indicate Hathaway has hidden anything there. Conant and I decided we had better do it, not that we didn’t trust you, my dear, but sometimes even the most careful can overlook what is right under their noses. You know that.”
“Of course, I know it and so you won’t mind if I go after your men and make another search?”
“Go as far as you like and good luck to you. Who is the tenant?”
“A blind gentleman from the west. I don’t know his name.”
“Well, I hope he will pay his rent and not break up her things. Goodby, my dear, and keep your eyes open on this subject we have had under discussion, eyes open and mouth closed.”
“Yes, sir,” she said respectfully, although such remarks did make her a bit weary.
“Mouth closed, indeed!” she said to herself as she hurried off. “I bet he doesn’t send out his male detectives with any such admonitions and I bet they do more talking than the women.”
She stopped for supper at a small, cheap restaurant where she hastily swallowed a sandwich and a cup of coffee. She then stopped at a drug store and bought new batteries for the two large flashlights she had in the pockets of her jacket. Fortified by the sandwich and coffee and armed with the flashlights as well as the small revolver she carried on dangerous missions, she made her way to the Hathaway house.
“It is a good thing I kept my latch-key,” she said as she fitted it into the lock on the front door. “Father used to say it was a good thing to keep all the keys of all the places one could.”