Nick did not, however, succeed in drawing his weapon nor in making the arrests he had in view. The entire sensational episode transpired in the quarter part of a second.
The yell scarce had left David Mack’s lips, when, through a doorway back of the detective, two men leaped with uplifted bludgeons and fell upon Nick from behind, just as he was springing to his feet.
One of them was a brawny, powerful man with red hair—Andy Duffy himself.
The other was Gleason, his chauffeur, mentioned in Patsy’s hearing by Kate Crandall.
All three men were with the woman in the house when Nick rang the bell, and their immediate suspicions had led to what followed.
Nick heard their steps behind him even while he was speaking, and he sprang to one side to avoid a blow—but the move was an instant tardy.
A blackjack in Duffy’s hand fell squarely on the side of Nick’s head. The terrific blow staggered him. Another from Gleason followed it. The third came from his more brawny assailant. All fell in the hundredth part of a second.
Nick felt his knees buckle under him. The room went whirling around like a top. The beginning and end were more quick than one could imagine.
Vengeful shouts from David Mack, exultant cries from Kate Crandall, the hoarse oaths and imprecations of his merciless assailants—all suddenly sounded faint and far away, and the light through the lace-draped windows turned to inky darkness.