That was Friday afternoon.  All that evening, and most of Saturday and Sunday, Mr. Holcombe sat on the floor, with his eye to the reflecting mirror and his note-book beside him.  I have it before me.

On the first page is the “dog meat—­two dollars” entry.  On the next, the description of what occurred on Sunday night, March fourth, and Monday morning, the fifth.  Following that came a sketch, made with a carbon sheet, of the torn paper found behind the wash-stand: 

And then came the entries for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Friday evening: 

6:30—­Eating hearty supper.

7:00—­Lights cigarette and paces floor.  Notice that when Mrs. P. knocks, he goes to desk and pretends to be writing.

8:00—­Is examining book.  Looks like a railway guide.

8:30—­It is a steamship guide.

8:45—­Tailor’s boy brings box.  Gives boy fifty cents.  Query.  Where does he get money, now that J.B. is gone?

9:00—­Tries on new suit, brown.

9:30—­Has been spending a quarter of an hour on his knees looking behind furniture and examining base-board.

10:00—­He has the key to the onyx clock.  Has hidden it twice, once up the chimney flue, once behind base-board.

10:15—­He has just thrown key or similar small article outside window into yard.

11:00—­Has gone to bed.  Light burning.  Shall sleep here on floor.

11:30—­He can not sleep.  Is up walking the floor and smoking.

2:00 A.M.—­Saturday.  Disturbance below.  He had had nightmare and was calling “Jennie!” He got up, took a drink, and is now reading.

8:00 A.M.—­Must have slept.  He is shaving.

12:00 M.—­Nothing this morning.  He wrote for four hours, sometimes reading aloud what he had written.

2:00 P.M.—­He has a visitor, a man.  Can not hear all—­word now and then.  “Llewellyn is the very man.”  “Devil of a risk—­” “We’ll see you through.”  “Lost the slip—­” “Didn’t go to the hotel.  She went to a private house.”  “Eliza Shaeffer.”

Who went to a private house?  Jennie Brice?

2:30—­Can not hear.  Are whispering.  The visitor has given Ladley roll of bills.

4:00—­Followed the visitor, a tall man with a pointed beard.  He went to the Liberty Theater.  Found it was Bronson, business manager there.  Who is Llewellyn, and who is Eliza Shaeffer?

4:15—­Had Mrs. P. bring telephone book:  six Llewellyns in the book; no Eliza Shaeffer.  Ladley appears more cheerful since Bronson’s visit.  He has bought all the evening papers and is searching for something.  Has not found it.

7:00—­Ate well.  Have asked Mrs. P. to take my place here, while I interview the six Llewellyns.

11:00—­Mrs. P. reports a quiet evening.  He read and smoked.  Has gone to bed.  Light burning.  Saw five Llewellyns.  None of them knew Bronson or Ladley.  Sixth—­a lawyer—­out at revival meeting.  Went to the church and walked home with him.  He knows something.  Acknowledged he knew Bronson.  Had met Ladley.  Did not believe Mrs. Ladley dead.  Regretted I had not been to the meeting.  Good sermon.  Asked me for a dollar for missions.