“Meet me in the writing room,” answered the colonel briefly.
It had been agreed between Grace and Hippy that he should give Colonel Scott the result of the morning’s investigation, so Lieutenant Wingate told the colonel the details of that investigation, to all of which the railroad man listened attentively.
“That’s my theory to a dot!” exclaimed the colonel. “These people think that the robbery was committed by some person in the hotel. I tell them it’s nonsense. No one else appears to have had the sense to look at the rear of the house, and the probabilities are that, had they done so, they would have discovered nothing at all. I wish you would repeat to the manager of the hotel what you have said to me.”
Hippy nodded his willingness to do so. The manager came in hurriedly after receiving the summons, and Hippy repeated his story of the discovery of the morning.
“You are the young fellow that I met on the second floor last night, aren’t you?” questioned the manager.
“No. That was Mr. Brown of our party, I believe.”
“Suppose you show me what you found at the back of the house,” suggested the manager.
“It were best not to do that,” answered Lieutenant Wingate. “It will attract too much attention, and, in case the thieves are about, will tip them off that you have a clew.”
“That is good sense,” agreed Colonel Scott. “Better leave following the clew to the Park guards.”
“Yes, you are right. This is a matter for Colonel Appleby. If you will go with me to the commanding officer of the post and give him the facts, I shall appreciate it. Kindly bring Mrs. Gray with you,” requested the manager, Hippy having given most of the credit for their discoveries to her.