"Something's up!" muttered Nick. "This way!"
With Chick at his heels, he tore across the wooded grounds and bounded over the iron fence at the street.
Then the occasion of the outcry at once became apparent.
Some two hundred yards away, in the yellow glare of one of the incandescent lights by which the little-frequented street was illumined, a man was battling desperately with three assailants, one of whom he had knocked to the ground.
Without a word, both detectives rushed down the road to his assistance.
As they drew nearer there came a flash of light, then the report of a pistol, followed by another shriek for help.
Then Nick saw one of the ruffians reel a little, as if shot, while a second hurled their victim to the ground. The third leaped to his feet at the same moment, yelling wildly:
"Look out! Scatter, boys! The cops are upon us!"
"Kilgore's voice, or I'm a liar," muttered Nick, over his shoulder.
Both detectives were still fifty yards from the scene of the furious conflict, and were running at the top of their speed along the rough road.