Carter had no doubt of it after a hasty examination, and in a very few minutes Doctor Percy came in and set to work over the unconscious detective, applying such restoratives as the case seemed to require.
In the meantime, with Patsy at his elbow, Nick made a thorough inspection of the several rooms. He found a window in the bedroom unlocked, and on the platform of the fire escape he discovered, with the help of his search light, the faint tracks left by the masked man whom Chick had encountered about three hours before.
“How it was done, Patsy, now is quite obvious,” Carter said grimly. “Some one, probably more than one, was here in advance of Carter or entered about the same time. Chick was caught unawares, I think, and overcome by the rascals.”
“But how could they have anticipated his visit?” questioned Patsy perplexedly.
“They did not,” Nick replied. “They did, however, anticipate something else.”
“What was that?”
“That I would search these rooms, Patsy, and the same farsighted rascal who sent me the anonymous letter undertook to get in his work ahead of me.”
“By Jove, I guess that’s right, chief.”
“He knew that I would seek for any evidence that Todd might have left here, and he sent one or more of his gang to prevent me from getting it. They have succeeded, too, if Todd really left anything, for they have cleaned up completely.”
“Gee whiz! I should say so,” Patsy agreed. “They didn’t miss nook or corner.”