Together we managed to push it in, and rushed into the stifle of
Warrington's suite. The whole thing was in flames and it was
impossible for us to remain there longer than to take in the
situation.
Accordingly we retreated slowly before the fierce blaze. One of
the other tenants came running with a fire extinguisher in either
hand from wall rack down the hall on this floor. As well try to
drown a blast furnace. They made no impression whatever.
Personally I had expected nothing like this. I had been prepared
up to the time the optophone reported the fire to dash over and
fight it out at close quarters with two as desperate and
resourceful men as underworld conditions in New York at that time
had created. Instead we saw no one at all.
The robbers had evidently worked in seconds instead of minutes,
realizing that they must take no risks in a showdown with Garrick.
Rooms that might perhaps have given some clew of their presence,
perhaps finger-prints which might have settled their identity at
once, were now being destroyed.
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