CHAPTER 27THE PADDED SECRET PRISON
Abbott and Nick Carter remained locked up together in earnest conversation nearly all that night. A train left Elmwood for New York at a few minutes after five o’clock in the morning, and it carried away the famous detective on his return to the city.
He went at once to his own house, where he was fortunate in finding his two assistants, Chick and Patsy.
His first move, after having dispatched a hearty breakfast, was to take Chick up to his “den” and remove his disguise as Wylie Ketchum, the lawyer. Then he proceeded to assist Chick in assuming the same character, until another Wylie Ketchum stood forth.
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,
