The name on the sign was: “B. Ardley.”
CHAPTER VI.
NICK’S SHREWD DEDUCTION.
Nick Carter read the distant sign with only indifferent interest.
“B. Ardley.”
Then, like a flash, the phonetic significance of it arose in his mind. He asked himself how it would sound if uttered aloud.
“B. Ardley,” he mentally repeated. “By Jove, that is almost like Beardly, if spoken quickly, or heard indistinctly. It must be that Patsy heard it in that way, since he could distinguish nothing more. He may have mistaken this name, B. Ardley, for Beardly. By gracious, it’s worth looking into.”
Nick’s face had reflected none of his thoughts.
Dugan still was lounging over the bar, waiting the further wishes of his unknown patron.
Nick glanced at him and remarked:
“This is a fine river, Mr. Dugan, from which a good deal of power must be derived. I see there are a number of mills farther up the stream and nearer the town. Sawmills, aren’t they?”