Madge made no further attempt to discourage Enid, for she scarcely knew what was the wisest course to follow if they were not to disclose their information to the police. It struck her as most singular that the kidnappers would go to such lengths to secure possession of a trophy which apparently was highly valued only by collectors. She could have understood a demand for a large sum of money but no such request had been made.
“I wonder how the note was left in Father’s room?” Enid mused. “I’m sure it wasn’t there yesterday.”
“No, the detectives surely would have found it for they went over the place with a fine tooth comb.”
“I don’t see how it could have been left while we were away this morning either,” Enid went on reflectively. “With the sailors here, it would have been impossible.”
“My guess is that the note was left by last night’s prowler.”
“We were in the cabin after that.”
“Yes, but we didn’t really look around much. We were too frightened. And naturally, we never dreamed that he had left a note behind.”
Madge was troubled by another thought which she decided not to confide to her chum, lest it worry her unnecessarily. It occurred to her that the kidnappers were in close touch with the situation aboard the yacht, else they could not have known of Enid’s release. The note obviously had been addressed to her, though her name had not been mentioned.
“Someone is keeping close watch here,” she reflected uncomfortably. “Likely enough, our every action is known.”
Enid broke in upon her thoughts to suggest that they both return to Mr. Burnett’s cabin, as she was curious to see exactly where the note had been found. They spent perhaps fifteen minutes in the room, finding no further evidence of the midnight prowler.