“Surrender!” he shouted. “I have a dozen officers at my back.”
His only answer was several pistol shots, but the bullets flew wide of their mark.
Then the outlaws rushed upon the detective.
Only one cowardly rascal turned to the door in the double wall to make his escape.
Busy as he was with the men about him, Nick could not help smiling when he saw the fellow unfastening the door.
He knew what would happen when he got it open.
Nick was now hard pressed, for the burglars were fighting for dear liberty.
He was in a fair way to get the worst of the encounter when the man at the door succeeded in getting it open, Chick having unfastened it from the other side.
As the burglar stepped into the opening he met a hard, white hand which sent him back into the rear room.
Then Chick sprang through the doorway with a yell, and began striking right and left.