"Silence!" Nick sternly hissed. "I’m wise to the whole business. Our partnership in crime is ended, also your little game. If you utter a sound to warn Fallon, I’ll send you to prison for twenty years."
"Curse you, Carter, I——”
"Hush! Ah, Chick, you’re here!"
Chick Carter had darted quietly in from a rear room.[Pg 38]
Sadie Badger had dropped on the sofa, as pale as if death-stricken.
"I picked the lock of the back door," Chick whispered. "Is the way open?"
"Wide open," said Nick, whipping out a pair of handcuffs. "Get into her garments. We must be out in another minute. I’ll fix the woman."
Sadie Badger, with the detective’s threat ringing in her ears, which she knew only too well he would execute, collapsed completely and offered no resistance.
Nick handcuffed her with her arms behind her, then tied a bandage securely over her mouth. He then marched her into a closet in the adjoining room and locked the door.
When he returned, after less than a minute, he found Chick clad in the woman’s hat and veil, with his figure almost completely enveloped in her long, black cloak.