The desperation of their situation was appalling.

The speed of their fall took their breath away and both instinctively
grasped the sides of the car and clung to it tenaciously.

Down three stories they plunged.

Then there suddenly sounded a sharp "click."

The car paused, slid a few feet, then came to a sudden stop.

At the last moment the clutches flew out and tightened on the pilot rods,
holding the falling car in midair.

The sudden stopping hurled the detectives to the floor, but they quickly
scrambled to their feet, overjoyed at their salvation.

For an instant neither could speak.

To be so suddenly snatched from the very jaws of death was such a strain
upon their nerves that they could hardly stand it.

Old King Brady was the first to recover, and glancing upward he saw that
their enemy had disappeared from the beam overhead.

"By thunder!" he exclaimed. "La Croix is baffled!"

"I never expected such good luck," replied Harry, delightedly.