“What’s down there?” asked Cardona.
“Nothing,” was the reply. “This is just a short cut to the first floor.”
“We’ll go down the other way,” declared Cardona.
They started along the hall. They stopped at the end, and Cardona tried a locked door.
“Glendenning has a niece,” explained Cardona. “This is her room — when she’s home. The secretary said she went away. The old man doesn’t know she’s gone.”
He tried a few keys, and finally opened the door. The room was plain, but neatly furnished. Cardona strode across to look at something lying on the table. In another minute, he was reading a note, aloud:
“UNCLE CLINTON: “I have left. I can bear it here no longer. I have been deceived. I know now what has become of the one I loved. I can never forget him. Do not fear that I shall ever tell what I have learned about you. Simply know that I am out of your life forever. “MARGARET.”
THE detective passed the note to the inspector, who studied it close to the window.
“The girl was wise,” declared Cardona. “She must have found out the old man’s game. Maybe we can trace her.”
There was a call from downstairs. Cardona hastened in that direction. Clyde Burke followed. What a scoop this all would be for the Classic!