“Madame Reclaire,
“No. 1871 ——th St.,
“Philadelphia.”
For thirty seconds Nick looked at the address on the label, after reading it. Then he muttered:
“So! so! Madame Reclaire, of Philadelphia! We shall meet again. I have not seen you since I worked out the identity of Daly. I then promised myself to look into your business at some future time a little more closely. Now, here is some more of your peculiar article in trade, and it has been used to further the ends of a stupendous crime.
“This label came from a bottle of your mixture which changes the color of hair, after a few applications, and keeps it of the desired hue.
“What a little thing often works out the fate of man! This small, square bit of paper, which the sportive wind blew to the feet of Nick Carter, has solved the mystery of that man who lies back yonder in his coffin.”
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SON RETURNS.
It was ten o’clock next morning before Nick Carter reached Dr. Abbott’s office, and then he found the doctor absent on his daily round among his patients.
At noon he went back, with better success.
“I have promised to accompany Mrs. Mackenzie to New York with her husband’s remains this evening, Ketchum. Can you remain here till we return?”
“When will that be?”