"She'd have seen a few of the same sights you're looking at today," Dean said. "The mountains haven't changed and there are a lot of buildings still standing from the last century."
"Yes, but think of the sleigh bells and the sound of the train coming in from Ridgway, clanking and hooting, and billowing its black smoke. And, oh so many more people on the streets! I can close my eyes and see the hustle-bustle of the village, the children playing, the pack mules and miners, the ladies decked out in long dresses and fur muffs. When you read the old newspapers and see the ads, you realize how self-contained Ouray was back then. Everything you needed was right here, shops and businesses of every description. Life for Annie must have been very exciting indeed!" The Deans looked at one another and nodded.
Effie choked a tad on her cookie at the enthusiasm of her rambling and asked for a glass of milk. Cynthia directed her to the kitchen just as Edith called to them from the top of the stairs. She sounded upset as they climbed to the second floor at her summons. Fred joined them from his room across the hall, a startled look on his face as he first noted the blonde hair.
"Someone has been in my room," Edith said, sounding more perplexed than upset.
"Are some of your belongings missing?" Cynthia asked with concern.
"No. I just know someone was here."
"Janet cleaned your room and changed the linens. Perhaps she just moved some of the items around."
"No. It's more than that. My underthings were moved, and my night clothes. Jerome used to do that. It was his way of letting me know I couldn't hide anything from him." Now, a look of fear crossed her face. "You don't suppose...?"
"I think we'd better call the police department," Dean said.
"No! Perhaps-I'm mistaken." She waved her hand with a dismissive gesture. "Lately my mind's been playing tricks. I'm sorry." Edith tried to close her door but Fred deftly slipped his foot in the way.
"Let's have a little chat about this," he said, opening her door and squired her in, closing it behind the others. The Deans, left in the hall, could only retreat downstairs.
"If anyone can talk sense into her fuzzy head, it's Fred O'Connor," said Dean. "But I'm still going to call Jake Weller. I'm sure he'll give me a speech about it not being his jurisdiction but he's the one who's talked to Jerome Shipton."
"Perhaps we should talk to Janet, too. She was here alone this afternoon. If Shipton did sneak in here after we saw him, she must have seen him."