Gridley’s furious commands were drowned by the crash of a falling door, the rending of blinds and the breaking of shuttered windows, at which the heads of policemen and leveled revolvers instantly appeared.
Patsy Garvan guessed the truth, and a yell broke from him.
“Hurrah! Zambo! It’s all off! The chief is here!”
Patsy was right. While the words were still on his lips, Nick, Chick, and Danny tore through the hall and rushed into the room, with weapons drawn and blood in their eyes.
Gridley vented an oath and snatched up one of Patsy’s revolvers, still lying on the table.
A bullet from Nick’s weapon broke the rascal’s wrist. He fell to the floor, howling with pain.
Chick had a gun under Magill’s nose, and Morgan and Phelan had thrown up their hands.
There was very little to it after that, in so far as opposition was concerned. Within five minutes the crooks were in irons, their captives liberated, and Nancy Nordeck relieved of her fears and started, indeed, on the better road.
Through her the entire amount of stolen funds were restored to the bank, or, more properly, through her and the Carters. She never was prosecuted for any of her past misdemeanors. Nick Carter made sure of that—and[Pg 40] equally sure that Gridley and his confederates received the most severe penalty of the law.
Nick’s deductions had been entirely correct, after the disclosures Chick had made, and the remarkable message from Patsy had showed them the way. Nick was right, too, in thinking that Kate Crandall, though informed of the facts, had suppressed them only with a feeling of jealous hatred and revenge for Maybrick and Harriet Farley, whose relief and gratitude over the happy turn of affairs scarce need be mentioned.