They could only have been left by a foot which came from the cellar!
Promptly Jack turned toward the cellar door, and made his way down into the big basement.
Going directly to one of the rear windows, he carefully examined it. The cobwebs and the dust on the sill had not been disturbed for months.
He turned to the second, and instantly emitted a shrill whistle of delight. Its cobwebs had been torn and swept aside, and the ledge brushed almost clean. And evidently but a short time before, for the cleared space showed little of the dust which constantly filtered through the floor above.
“Fine!” exclaimed Jack. “Now I—” He paused. The window was securely latched on the inside!
For several minutes Jack stood, disappointed and mystified. Then, examining the latch closely, he laughed, and grasping it with his fingers, easily pulled it out. It had been forced from the outside, and merely pressed back into the hole.
But its being replaced showed that the intruder had not made his escape that way.
Jack began an examination of the end of the cellar under the express office. And the exit was soon disclosed.
The dividing wall was of boarding, and at the outer end, to facilitate the examination of the gas metres of the two companies, was a narrow door. Ordinarily this door was secured on the telegraph company’s side by a strong bolt.
The bolt was drawn, and the door swung easily to Jack’s touch!