"Yes," said Mr. Wayward, "there's nothing else for it."
Rockwell hastily departed to announce their changed plans to the station master, and Merriam and Mr. Wayward looked at each other. The latter's face had assumed the humorous smile which had been his expression towards the whole affair from the beginning.
"It's been a damn fool business all along," he said.
"I suppose it has," said Merriam.
"Good fun for you, though." Mr. Wayward lit a cigar.
"Yes," Merriam assented. But he was thinking of something else. Back to Chicago! The young rascal was realising that that meant he should see Mollie June again.
Mr. Wayward puffed meditatively.
"'Doctor disappeared,'" he quoted from the telegram. "That means Hobart was in it. Probably he was the chief agent. Crockett's bribed him."
Merriam suddenly remembered the tableau which Rockwell and he had surprised as they stepped out of the elevator at the Hotel De Soto on the previous afternoon: Dr. Hobart in confidential conference with the floor clerk.
"Probably they bribed the floor clerk, too," he said. "Hobart seemed to be sweet on her."