Like a bolt from an azure sky, came the sudden, violent crash of three men against the door leading into the conservatory, and with it the smash of woodwork and the rending of lock and hinges. The door fell in upon the floor with a violence that seemed to shake the house, and over it Chick, Jenks, and Gilman came plunging, revolvers in hand. Mingled with all this were the shrieks of Kate Crandall, screams from Maggie Duffy, the hoarse shouts of dismay from the cornered men--and a single ringing report from a revolver outside of the splintering window. For David Mack, as Chick had anticipated, obeyed the first impulse of his recreant heart, that of vengeance. He leaped to his feet the instant the crash came, and snatched his revolver from the table, turning like a flash to fire at the helpless detective. Patsy’s revolver barked on the instant, however, and the bullet went true. It was a drop shot, indeed. For David Mack threw up his hands and without so much as a groan pitched headlong to the floor, shot through the brain. He died where he lay thirty seconds later. In the meantime Chick and the two detectives from headquarters had covered the others, and, in spite of curses and imprecations, they were speedily put in irons. The case, already so apparent to the reader, practically ended then and there, in so far as any difficult work for the detectives was concerned. Amy Madden was found confined in a room on the second floor, and long before midnight, as Chick had predicted, she was restored to the arms of her overjoyed father. Her story confirmed Nick’s theory of the abduction, which already has been stated. The crooks were easily convicted in court a week later, and all were sentenced to the State’s prison for several years. Kate Crandall pined in her confinement and died before her sentence expired. Nick Carter and his assistants were handsomely rewarded by the grateful banker, even more handsomely than Nick was really willing to accept. He allowed, nevertheless, discussing it with Mr. John Madden, that it was better than having had to pay--Half a Million Ransom. THE END. “The Girl Kidnapper; or, Nick Carter’s Up-to-date Clew,” is the title of the story that you will find in the next issue of this weekly, No. 124, out January 23d. It deals with the doings of some unusual criminals, and the remarkably clever manner in which Nick Carter got the upper hand of them. RUBY LIGHT. By BURKE JENKINS. (This interesting story was commenced in No. 120 of NICK CARTER STORIES. Back numbers can always be obtained from your news dealer or the publishers.) CHAPTER X. “BUTTER FINGER.” Stroth started to lead me toward another door at the forward end of the stateroom; then he caught the interest in my eyes, now that I had opportunity to turn attention to the room itself. “It’s no Chinese puzzle to guess my hobby, is it?”