“I’ll turn this handwriting over to the police,” she explained to Louise. “They may be able to trace Ben Bowman by means of it.”
“Providing the man ever comes to Riverview,” Louise said skeptically. “It seems like a forlorn hope to me.”
Before leaving the office, Penny inquired of the clerk who had handled the message if a description of Ben Bowman could be provided.
“I really don’t remember him,” the young woman answered. “In general I should say he was well-dressed—probably about thirty-five years of age.”
“Not much to go on,” Penny said regretfully. “Thanks anyhow.”
“Where now?” Louise asked in a weary voice as they finally left the telegraph office. “Shall we buy tickets to the play?”
“Not yet,” said Penny. “I’d like to wander around the market district a bit.”
For the next hour they did exactly that, selecting a section of the city where farmers brought their produce to sell in open stalls. Penny went from one counter to another, inspecting cantaloupes, hoping to find one which bore the Davis stamp.
“I’m getting tired of pawing vegetables!” Louise presently complained. “When do we eat?”
“All right, we may as well call it a day,” Penny replied reluctantly.