Only Mayhew was able to make the chase, yet even he was not quick enough. When he reached the door of the inner room, he fired futilely at a figure that was leaving the apartment.
Running to the hall, he caught a fleeting glimpse of a black form at the head of the stairway. Mayhew emptied his gun in that direction. He damaged nothing but the wall.
At the head of the stairs, Mayhew shouted into the depths below, but received no answering call.
While he was trying vainly to head off the escaping man, the elevator door opened and Joe Cardona stepped from the car.
Excitedly, Mayhew told what had happened. Cardona grimly drew him into the elevator, and ordered the operator to make a quick drop to the ground floor.
They found the clerk at the door of the elevator. He had heard Mayhew’s shouts, and had been ringing the bell.
Cardona started across the lobby. The revolving door was turning. A plainclothes man was coming in. The fellow stopped, nonplused, as he saw the detective.
“I told you to watch out front!” cried Cardona angrily.
“You told me” — the man was stammering in bewilderment — “you told me that five minutes ago. But just now — when you came back outside — just a minute ago—”
“Come!” ordered Cardona.