As the chief stepped back to the door, Nick gave a sharp call of warning, which he knew that Chick would understand. The chief turned angrily in his direction for just an instant. In that instant there was a quick, heavy blow below, and a fall. Then a cool breath of air from the street swept through the hall and up the stairs to the room where Nick lay. The chief of the diamond thieves turned back into the room. There was a look of brutal rage on his face. “You were right,” he said. “I presumed too much on the competence of our guards. You know too much to be allowed to leave this place alive.” 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.” “His attention was attracted elsewhere,” said Nick, with a smile, as Chick released him from his bonds. “I don’t understand,” said the assistant. “I surely thought it was all off with you. What happened?” “There was a call for help from the back room,” said Nick, with a grin. “I see,” said Chick. “Some of your ventriloquism. Well, it saved your life, all right. What next?” In a few words he informed Chick of the situation. “I must get home at once,” he said. Just then Patsy and Danny made their appearance. “It’s no use,” Patsy said. “The house is empty. I can’t understand how they got away so handily.” “Then the game is about played out so far as this place is concerned,” said Nick, “and we may as well take our departure for the present.”