A cowardly waiter was aiming a blow at the seeming mechanic from behind, which would have ended the fight right there.
He was not striking with his fist, but held a heavy hatchet in his hand.
Without saying a word, Nick struck out, and the waiter went halfway over a table before he fell.
The dishes, with which the table had been loaded, struck the floor about the time the waiter did, and there was a great crash as the fellow floundered around among the damaged crockery.
The door of the private room was now opened, and the three high-power burglars, who had been perfecting their schemes there, rushed out.
Nixon and his gang drew back, leaving Nick and the seeming mechanic standing by the overturned table.
Gilmore dashed forward and seized the young man by the collar.
“You’ll go over the road for this,” he shouted.
The young fellow threw out his hip and caught the burglar around the body.
It was a pretty case of hip-lock, and Gilmore carried another table to the floor when he went down.