CHAPTER VIII.
UNDER THE SURFACE.As Nick Carter had rightly conjectured, when weighing the mystifying knowledge displayed by Madame Victoria, there was something under the surface.
What the something was, moreover, plainly appeared in what followed the visit of Nick to the suburban house of Mr. Amos Badger.
The moment the detective departed, in company with Grady, there came over both Badger and his wife a very decided change.
With an ugly gleam in his dark eyes, which were still following the runabout as it sped down the long driveway, Badger ripped off the red flannel bandages from around his neck, exclaiming vehemently:
“Whew! these infernal things have set me reeking at every pore! Thank Heaven he remained no longer, or I should have run down into my boots. There’s not a dry rag on
