“We don’t know,” answered the hotel manager nervously.
“I followed your instructions, sir,” the clerk explained. “In exactly twenty minutes after you left the lobby I telephoned this room. Failing to arouse Major Hartgrove I sent a boy up here. This is the way the room was found. Nothing has been touched.”
Flash gazed curiously about. One of the beds had been used, the other remained neatly made up. A chair was overturned. Suitcases lay open, their contents spread about the floor.
“The room has been ransacked,” the captain muttered. “And I know what they were after.”
“Can you tell if anything is missing?” asked the manager.
“Major Hartgrove carried important documents upon his person.”
Captain Johns made a silent appraisal of the bedroom. He examined the contents of the suitcases, the windows opening upon the fire escape, and then questioned the bellboy and the chambermaid in turn. Neither had seen strangers on the floor during the past two hours, nor had they observed Major Hartgrove since early in the evening.
As the inquiry continued, Flash became aware of how fast time was slipping away. He was annoyed at Captain Johns’ slow but thorough way of conducting the investigation, and he was disgusted because the army man refused to believe that Rascomb was an impostor.
“Rascomb had a finger in the Major’s disappearance,” he thought grimly. “But no one ever will believe it. I may as well save my breath.”
Knowing that Doyle would be expecting him, he decided to await the Captain’s pleasure no longer. Without bothering to explain that he was leaving, he went to join the _News-Vue_ technician.
“Where’ve you been, Flash?” Doyle greeted him impatiently. “I’ve kept the car waiting fifteen minutes.”
“I saw him myself in the lobby. Flash you’re dead wrong about—”
“Let’s not say anything more about Rascomb tonight or later,” Flash broke in wearily. “I’m willing to forget him.”
“Then let’s move,” said Doyle, picking up his suitcase. “This is a swell hotel! Not even a boy to carry your luggage!”
“Oh, nothing of consequence,” Flash remarked, enjoying the effect of his news. “Major Hartgrove has been kidnapped—that’s all.”
“It looks that way. He disappeared from his room, and the place has been ransacked.”