“Of course. I’d take you to her now, but the doctor has given her something to quiet her. The servants don’t know anything; I’ve questioned them till I’m hoarse and been in touch with every one to whom Horry might have gone. For God’s sake, find my boy!”
Young Trafford showed them out and McCarty glanced keenly into his pale, troubled face as he held the door open. He seemed on the point of speech but glanced back over his shoulder and then resolutely closed his lips. McCarty paused.
“Before we come in the morning you’d do well to tell the lad’s father to come clean with us,” he admonished in a lowered tone. “’Tis not by keeping anything back that he’ll help!”
Trafford started.
“Do you think he is?” he countered quickly. “I’ve told you all I know, at any rate, but let me hear if there’s anything more I can do. I’ll sit up all night by the telephone.”
“Where are we going now?” Dennis asked as his companion turned toward the east gate. “’Twas to find who killed Hughes that the inspector made deputies of us, not to be chasing runaway kids, but I’m trailing right with you.”
“‘Runaway,’ is it? I thought that was your hunch when you asked what pocket money the lad had and then described him with more truth than politeness!” McCarty chuckled. “You think he’s gone to join this artist fellow Blaisdell? ’Twill be easy to settle that when we find out where that tour was to commence, for Horace could not have gone far on six seventy-five.”
“And we know how he got out all right,” Dennis supplemented. “’Twas by that east gate ahead when Bill left it open so convenient!—Look at Orbit’s house! Do you suppose his afternoon party is lasting on through the night?”
The awning and carpet were still stretched from the entrance door to curb, and, seemingly borne upon the subdued radiance of the glow which filtered through the curtained windows of the conservatory, there came to them faintly the strains of the organ. It was no majestic harmony this time, however, but a simple, insistently repetitive measure. McCarty paused to listen, shaking his head.
“Orbit’s by himself and just kind of thinking through the organ; can’t you tell, the way he’s just wandering along, amusing himself? That’s an easy little tune, too, that would stick in your head.—Come on. I’ve a notion to see part of this Mall we’ve not thought to examine yet.”