“They’re in one of the side rooms. Ah, that was the chief’s voice.”
“Come on,” Chick muttered, starting down the stairs.
Patsy followed close at his companion’s heels.
They had made only the first turn in the stairway, when the voice of Mortimer Deland, rising high with the last threatening words he was addressing to Nick Carter, coupled with his fierce commands to his three confederates, fell loud and clear on the two detective’s ears.
Chick Carter glanced at Patsy and pulled out a second revolver.
“Fire the house, will he?” he whispered hurriedly. “There’ll be firing of another kind done here, if necessary.”
“You bet!” nodded Patsy, with brows knitting.
“Shoot to kill, if you have to shoot.”
“Kill goes!”
“They’ll come out this way,” Chick said hurriedly, as they reached the foot of the stairway and paused for an instant near the front door.