It was not until then that Chick saw the automatic at his chief’s breast. There was no time to reach Grantley—not a second to waste.
The young detective did what Nick and his men seldom allowed themselves to do—he turned his automatic around again and shot to kill.
Nick’s own life depended upon it, and there was nothing else to do.
The bullet struck Grantley full between the eyes, and the escaped convict dropped without a sound.
The battle was over and won.
* * * * * * *
Doctor Hiram A. Grantley—so called—master surgeon and monster of crime, would never return to Sing Sing to serve out his unexpired term; but neither would he trouble the world or Helga Lund again.
If the truth were known, it would doubtless be found that Warden Kennedy heaved a sigh of profound relief when he heard of Grantley’s death. It left no room for anxiety over the possibility of another hypnotic escape.
Doctors Chester, Willard, and Graves were speedily brought to trial, and they were convicted of aiding and abetting the deceased Grantley in an illegal experiment in hypnotism on the person of the great Swedish actress.
As for Helga Lund, she was a nervous wreck for nearly a year, but gradually, under the care of the best European physicians, she recovered her health and her confidence in herself.