Nick looked critically at Chick thus disguised, and then remarked:
“You’ll do. Mrs. Mackenzie saw me only by lamplight, and through her crape veil, and you are so nearly like I was, that the difference is not discernible to an unpracticed eye.”
“I guess there’ll be no trouble in deceiving her, Nick. The man never saw you?”
“No. Now, remember you are to be at the Scotia Insurance Company’s office at two o’clock prompt.
“Patsy will be on hand to shadow them when they leave the office, and never lose sight of the couple till I return, to-morrow morning.”
About noon Nick went to the Scotia office, and received the following telegram, which had just arrived:
Elmwood, Pa., July 9, 18—.
“To Wylie Ketchum, care Scotia Life Insurance Company, New York City: Impossible for me to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie to-day. Have sent certificates of cause of death and identification of widow. If necessary, I can come down to-morrow. They leave at ten o’clock.
Abbott.”
“It’s all right,” said Nick, as he handed the telegram to the president. “My assistant will represent me here as Mr. Ketchum, and I’ll be off to Elmwood again.”