"To whom did you show the room yesterday?" I asked. "Anyone who had an opportunity to examine the room inside could have made plans for returning at night."
"Well, first it was the police, and they told me not to let anyone touch anything,--though I knew that myself. Then there were people all day long,--curiosity seekers, I call them. There was one little old gentleman that came up first,--I say old, but he was as spry as any of them. Something like a bird in the way he turned his head."
It suggested Mr. Ellison exactly! "With spectacles?" I asked.
"Yes. Gold-brimmed. Gray hair that curled up at the ends."
"Anyone else you remember? Was there a tall young man, fresh-shaven, with rather a blue-black tint where the beard had been taken off?"
"There was!" cried Gertie. "I saw that! He came last night, about seven."
"Well, I didn't let him go up," said the mother. "I was tired bothering with them."
"But you told him which room Mr. Barker had," said Gertie.
"Who was he?"
"I don't know. I saw such a looking man with Mr. Barker the other day, and I just asked out of curiosity."