“No, I think I know who took her away, and what the man’s object was.”
But as Nick went out on the street, he muttered, under his breath:
“If Miss Templin fell into that fellow’s trap, I can do her no good now. I must not risk spoiling the whole case in an attempt to find her at present, especially as such a search would be extremely difficult to prosecute from the points I have to start with.
“This sudden disappearance of Miss Templin will make my work somewhat more difficult, and change my plans materially. With her to accompany me to Elmwood and confront Mrs. Mackenzie and her woman, Emma, my task would have been easy from this point. Now, I am forced to take a new tack, and sail up against the wind.”
He went to another hotel, registered and retired for the night.
But he was up and about his business early the next morning.
When the president of the Scotia Insurance Company arrived at his office that forenoon, he found Nick on hand waiting for him.
“Ah! Mr. Carter,” he cried, “I am glad to see you. What news have you to report?”
“You must pay the money on that premium, sir!”
The president sat down with a decided look of disappointment on his face.