“What else was taken?”
“Nothing so far as I can tell. The library was ransacked but everything seems to be there.”
“The library! How very odd!”
“Yes, I can’t imagine what the thief thought he might find.”
Madge started to say something, then closed her lips firmly. She had a theory of her own but decided not to mention it yet. She followed Anne to the library. Books had been pulled from their shelves and tumbled out upon the floor. Papers were scattered about and the desk appeared to have been opened.
“I haven’t checked over all the books yet,” Anne said, “though to my knowledge Father had only a few of any real value. They’re all here.”
“What time of night do you imagine the house was entered?”
“Oh, Madge, I have no idea. I must have slept so well that I didn’t hear a sound. Strange that I didn’t, for I’m sure the thief came upstairs. The laboratory appears to have been entered.”
Madge expressed a desire to see Mr. Fairaday’s workroom and was conducted upstairs. The laboratory was in disarray. Boxes had been removed from the shelves, containers misplaced and files disturbed.
“It looks as if the thief were after something besides silverware,” she commented. “I suppose your Father’s bedroom was entered too?”