As he leveled his revolver at the helpless detective there came a rush on the outer staircase, and he paused, as if uncertain whether it would not be better to turn his weapon on the intruders.
At that critical moment there came a sharp call for help, seemingly from the rear room, and he bounded in that direction.
“Help! I am being strangled.”
The voice appeared to be that of a woman.
The would-be murderer, when he reached the room whence the cry had seemed to proceed, found it entirely unoccupied. With a muttered oath he sprang back to the helpless detective on the couch, and again lifted his weapon.
He was too late to accomplish the murder of his prisoner. Chick, disguised as the young man who had played the part of the reporter, swept into the room and struck down the revolver. The bullet buried itself in the carpet. Behind Chick came Patsy and Danny, Nick’s chauffeur, who had entered the lower hall when Chick had opened the door, after putting the guard out with a blow.
The would-be murderer disappeared in the rear room before Chick could lay hands on him, and closed the door in the faces of his pursuers. They had the barrier open in a trice, but the chief of the diamond thieves had disappeared. An open door showing a private staircase leading to the basement revealed the manner of his flight.
While the other two hastened down the staircase in hot pursuit, Chick turned back to his chief.
“Rather close call that,” he said. “It is a wonder the fellow did not shoot before we could get into the room.”