"Not the slightest. Another doctor was called in, and then I went
back. The peculiar odor, or whatever it was, was gone, and I could
find no further trace of it."

"You think it must have evaporated?"

"What else is there to think? The windows and blinds had been thrown
wide open, and the sun was shining into the room."

This was all the young doctor could tell, and as he was in a hurry to
get away on more business, the detective did not detain him further.
He ascertained that Mrs. Bardon was also away, and then left the house.

In his pocket he still carried the bit of paper which he had picked up
from under the safe. It had evidently been part of the wrapper around
some small object, and bore the following, printed in blue ink:

nder & Co.,
ley Street,
ter, N. Y.
ark.

The paper might be valuable, and it might be worthless. It had
evidently been around a small box or bottle. The address was evidently
that of some firm doing business in some town in New York State. What
the "ark" could stand for, he could not surmise.

As the detective left the Bardon house, he saw a middle-aged man
entering the Langmore mansion. The man was well dressed and carried a