"Mr. Beard told me to tell all visitors that Mr. Whitmore was away on a business trip."
"Who is Mr. Beard?"
"Mr. Whitmore's confidential secretary. He took charge of the business while Mr. Whitmore was away."
"Isn't it somewhat unusual that nobody called to see Mr. Whitmore on his return this morning?"
"I guess they didn't know he was back," the boy replied.
"Did Mr. Whitmore have any trouble with anyone before he left?"
"Not that I know of. But after he was gone a man came around here every day for four weeks looking for him. The man looked like a Broadway dude—like he drank a whole lot and didn't sleep much. I once heard him tell Mr. Beard that Mr. Whitmore had run away from him."
The coroner and the visitors exchanged meaning glances.
"Where is Mr. Beard?" inquired the coroner.
"He didn't come down to-day."