The sight in one made his heart sick. On a bed lay an old man, reduced to almost a skeleton. The old man had his fists doubled up, and seemed to be fighting off some imaginary foe.
The next window was dark, and our hero turned to the third.
The sight that met his gaze here startled him. In a chair near the narrow window sat Mrs. Vernon, while in the center of the apartment stood her graceless nephew.
The conversation between the pair has already been given. Robert could not hear what was being said, but he saw every action, and saw that Mrs. Vernon was pleading to be released.
When Frederic Vernon went below, our hero slid down the tree and ran once more to the front of the house.
He saw Vernon come out and start for the street car line. It was now dark, and he managed to keep quite close to the young man without being discovered.
Now that he had seen Mrs. Vernon, Robert's mind was made up as to what he should do.
Frederic Vernon had to wait several minutes for a car. When it came along he hurried to a forward seat and gave himself up to his thoughts. As before, Robert kept on the rear platform.
The center of the city being reached, Frederic Vernon left the car and took his way to a leading hotel. Watching him, Robert saw the young man get a key from the night clerk and enter the elevator.
As soon as Vernon was out of sight Robert entered the hotel office and asked if he might look over the register.