Twelve o'clock
At ten o'clock a clerk went to the hotel where he boarded to learn the cause of his absence . He had not been there since the night before . His trunks and clothing were all in their places , and nothing in the room indicated anything more than an ordinary absence . Twelve o'clock , and still Mr. Freeling had not come to the store . Two or three notes were to be paid that day , and the managing-clerk began to feel uneasy . The bank and check books were in a private drawer in the fireproof of which Mr. Freeling had the key . So there was no means of ascertaining the balances in bank .