The first thing to catch Nick Carter’s eye after stepping out on the veranda was a strip of white cotton cloth, also a piece of common white string, both lying on the veranda floor near the willow chair mentioned.
The strip of cloth was somewhat soiled and wrinkled, also creased and curled in a way, and Nick picked it up and examined it.
He found that it was about two feet in length and five[{11}] inches wide, also that it had been carefully folded lengthwise. On one soiled end of it were stains of blood.
“By Jove, here’s another bit of curious evidence,” said he, after a careful examination.
“It looks like a bandage,” said Fallon.
“That’s just what it is.”
“But why curious?”
“Note the wrinkles and creases and the way it curls,” said Nick. “Plainly enough, Fallon, it has been bound around a man’s hand, or it would not have retained these several turns and creases.”
“I see.”
“Hold out your hands, both of them. We can find out by readjusting these quirks and turns on which hand it was worn.”