“I thought Mr. Ayling checked all hotels.”
“Only the larger ones, I imagine. Anyhow, I might run into interesting information.”
“Go ahead, if you like,” her father encouraged her.
Early the next morning, Penny set off alone to visit a dozen hotels. At none of them had anyone by the name of Hawthorne registered.
“She may have used an assumed name,” Penny thought, a trifle discouraged. “In that case, I’ll never find her.”
Hopeful that Mr. Ayling might arrive on the morning train, she went to the Union Railroad Station. Among those waiting on the platform for the incoming Chicago Express was Winkey, the hunchback.
He did not see Penny, and in the large crowd, she soon lost sight of him.
Finally, the train pulled in. But Mr. Ayling did not alight from either the coaches or pullmans. Feeling even more depressed, Penny went home for lunch.
Several times during the afternoon, she telephoned Mr. Ayling’s hotel to inquire if he had arrived. Each time she was told he had not checked in.
“Wonder what’s keeping him in Chicago?” Penny mused. “I hope he didn’t change his mind about coming back here.”