“Well, I happen to be,” and Bob smiled. “I have permission from Chief Duncan of the Cliffside police to do what I can on this case.”
A light seemed to break over Mr. Drayton.
“Oh, now I know who you be!” he said, though not much more genially than at first. “You’re that young detective feller that was here the day Hiram was knocked out. Um, what you doin’ here?” and there was suspicion in the question.
“Just looking around—that’s all—same as you are.”
“Um! Find out anything?”
“No, not a thing. It’s as deep a mystery as ever. I was wishing I could get inside. I’d like to take a look at the walls of that room again, and see if there was a secret opening in them. There must be, in order for that key to have gotten back inside.”
“Um, maybe there is—unless Hiram did all this himself.”
“Do you believe that, Chief?”
“Um, I’m not sayin’ what I believe. But I know one thing.”
“What’s that, Chief?” Bob thought it best to give the man his tide. It might make him more friendly.