Nick Carter heard him, and then saw both. As quick as a flash, he shouldered both Deland and Henley to the middle of the hall, then leaped quickly back into the dining room, out of range of a chance bullet.
Chick saw the idea, and a shriek instantly followed his yell.
“Hands up, you fellows! We’ll drop the first man who resists!”
“Every man!” roared Patsy, with both guns leveled.
There were four weapons covering the crooks, with bullets enough in all to have riddled them.[Pg 38]
Only one of them acted under the impulse of desperation—Jim Henley.
His shotgun, with which he had been prodding Nick in the back, leaped to the hollow of his arm.
Bang!
It was Chick’s revolver that barked. The shotgun fell to the floor, and Henley with it, shot through the head.
Nothing more sanguinary and determined was needed. Deland and his other two confederates instantly threw up their hands—and kept them up till Patsy and Nick Carter were ready to fit them with bracelets.