With a cry of pain the wounded girl slipped off her chair to the floor.
The sight transformed Nick Carter into a madman.
He threw his whole weight against the door and tore it from its hinges.
The room was empty and the bird had flown.
The detective heard the front door close after him, and he rushed downstairs and into the street, but he could not see the fugitive.
“I will arrest this demon of a woman, at any rate.”
Another surprise awaited him.
Louise Calhoun had also disappeared, and he searched the house from top to bottom without finding a trace of her.
Nick was beside himself with rage.
He had the two birds caged, as he thought, and now what had he to show for his work?—nothing!