“I don’t think I could call this a very brilliant night’s work,� he told himself, as he sought the nearest subway station. “Still, that scrap of a conversation told me considerable, although I did not hear a word that would convey the slightest proof of what I desire to know.�
But he did not go directly to his home even then. He went, instead, to one of the night offices of the Western Union and wrote a telegraph letter of fifty words to Patsy.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
It was four o’clock in the morning when Nick Carter got into his bed, and, contrary to his custom, it was eight o’clock when he left it. He had been roused from sleep by the raucous cries of men in the street and avenue, who were shouting unintelligible information concerning an extra that was just out.
The cries sounded like:
“Wuxtra! Wuxtra! Fullercountuv——â€� Nick gave it up at that, although he believed that he had distinguished the word murder among the jargon. He rang his bell and called Joseph to him.
“What is that extra about, Joseph?� he asked.
“A double murder, sir, discovered early this morning—soon after four, I think. Danny is reading about it now, sir. I only saw the headlines over his shoulder.â€�
“A double murder? Where did it happen, Joseph?�
“I don’t know, sir. I did not notice. Shall I prepare your bath?�