"Whoever took those papers
can't help but know, that their loss would be discovered at once.
The condition the room was left in would make that certain. I can't
see what good it is to keep quiet about it."
"I'll explain," Jack went on. "The person who did the robbery of
course knows he, or she, did it, and knows that we won't be long in
finding it out. But the hotel people don't know it yet, nor the
guests, and it's possible to keep it from them. They're the ones who
will do the talking. Fortunately, the newspapers here aren't like
those up home. There won't be any reporters after us, if we keep
still."
"But what's the advantage of it?" asked Cora.
"To puzzle and alarm the thief," was Jack's answer. "No doubt he--for
I'll assume for the sake of argument that it was a man--will be
looking for a hue and cry. He'll expect it, and when it doesn't
come, he'll begin to imagine all sort of things."
"I see!" cried Walter. "He'll believe we are on his trail, have a
clue and--"
"Exactly!" interrupted Jack. "You're a regular 'deteckertiff,'
Wally. That's my game, to puzzle the thief, make him think all sort
of things, and so worry him by our very quietness, that he may betray
himself."
"Well, maybe that's the best plan," agreed Cora, rather doubtfully.
"But how shall I get my papairs back?" asked Inez, falteringly. "Ze
papairs are needed to get my poor father from prison.
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