"Why, that silly newspaper report that went out when you arrived here about your adventures on the way and the romantic rescue of Wren. If they had come across that it would have given them a clew."
"They were traveling south then, Wren said, and that was two weeks ago. They would have had ample time to reach this vicinity."
"That is so," rejoined Mr. Parker solemnly; "I'll make telephonic inquiries at once. They may have been seen in the vicinity."
"While you are doing that we'll examine the room. They may have left a clew there," said Roy.
Roy and Jimsy darted upstairs on this errand. On looking round the place it was clear enough how the abductors had gotten in. Outside the window was an extension roof. It would have been very easy for an active man such as gipsies usually are to have clambered in and out again without detection.
Taking a lantern they examined the ground outside. On a flower bed below the roof was the imprint of a man's feet.
"Notice anything peculiar about it?" asked Jimsy, for Roy was bending earnestly over the prints.
"Yes, I'd know that foot print again anywhere," he said; "see, one side of the man's boot was broken, the one of the right foot. His toes show here on the ground."
"That might be a good clew if it was daylight; but right now—"
Jimsy sighed. It was manifestly impossible to do any tracking of the man with the broken boot in the darkness.