On the bed lay an open satchel, its contents very much disarranged.

The owner had apparently left it in a hurry.

Nick went over to the bed and looked down at the contents of the grip.

The first object to catch his eye was a red wig with a false beard of the same color attached.

This interested him mightily.

There was a fat wallet in the satchel, and——

Just at that point the detective, steel-nerved though he was, experienced something like a shock.

A dresser stood at the end of the room, at right angles with the foot of the bed.

Out of the corner of his eyes Nick caught a glimpse of the glass, and in it was reflected the figure of a man.

The man had opened the door leading off to the left and was standing just within it, coolly eying the detective.