Chick handed her one, saying that she’d find it a little heavier than the one she was used to having.
“Now,” said Nick, “I will lead, Ida follow and Chick behind. Come on.”
They passed through the hall and to the stairs, and down them without anybody interfering. But, as they reached the door, it was opened and a man made his appearance.
Ida immediately recognized him, even in the dim light, as the tough who had misdirected her into the dark hallway where she had been seized.
“That is one of them,” she said.
The tough, with an oath, called on some one behind him and sprang at Nick.
Possibly if he had known the ready use the famous detective could make of his fists, he would have thought twice over his action.
As it was, he received a blow straight between the eyes which sent him out of the door and on his back to the pavement.
Nick sprang forward through the door at once to meet the second coming up. He did not wait for any action on the part of that fellow, but sent him to keep company with the other, who was endeavoring to get on his feet.
Chick caught Ida and swiftly carried her out of harm’s way, through the door and into the street, through which now she had passed for the second time that night.