“Ah!” cried somebody inside.
“That’s Milmarsh!” exclaimed Carter involuntarily. “It means that the other fellow has got away. Down with this door!”
The detective had considered, for a moment, the wisdom of rushing down the stairs and out to the lawn, to pursue the person who had just jumped through the window. But he decided that it would be hard to find anybody in the darkness who had had so long a start, and he redoubled his efforts to get the door open.
“Shove, Chick!”
“I am shoving!”
“Harder!”
“Gosh! I’m doing all I can!” protested Chick.
The two moved back a few inches from the door, and flung themselves back against it with all their weight.
This time it yielded. With a smash, it fell into the room. Unfortunately, the two detectives went with it, and it took them a little time to get up and find out just where they were.