"I don't know anything about that. Of course, I had no feeling against you in the matter. I wanted the place, but I could not have obtained it if your work had been satisfactory." "You used some underhanded method to oust me." "I did not." "You did. If you had not, how could you have gotten the place? There are dozens--hundreds--of experienced men, who would have been glad to take the position at half my salary. No, you did it for private reasons of your own. You were hired to do it to separate me from her." "From whom?" "You know well enough who I mean." "I have not the slightest idea," replied Al. By this time Farley had permitted him to rise to his feet, but still kept between him and the door. "I mean Gladys--as you know," said the drink-maddened man; "Gladys, for whom I would give my very life." "Miss March?" It was with genuine surprise that Al asked this question. "Yes." "You think that I am in a conspiracy to separate you from her?" "I know it." "You are entirely mistaken. I know nothing at all about Miss March's affairs; in fact, I have never even spoken to her." "It is a lie. But come, I have no more time to waste. This job must be done." He again seized the boy by the throat, and dragged him toward the window. Al was by no means a weakling, but he was absolutely powerless in the grasp of his frenzied assailant. With one hand Farley held his intended victim, while with the other he threw up the window sash. "No one in the street below," he hissed, "is looking, and if they were they could not see us. When your body is found, your death will be considered an accident." Al now lay on his back upon the sill; half his body was out of the window. Apparently the villain's object was almost accomplished, and in a few seconds the boy's mutilated body would be lying upon the pavement below. "I never knew before," said Farley, "how sweet revenge was." "You won't know just yet," said Al, "if I can help it." As he spoke, realizing his extreme peril, he made one last, desperate effort, exerting all his strength, and succeeded in regaining his footing. The struggle was renewed, but it seemed certain that it must result in the boy's defeat. Suddenly, however, Farley released his hold on Al and rushed to the opposite side of the room, crying: "Interfere, will you?" At first our hero could not understand this action, but in a moment he comprehended it. The villain had actually been frightened by his own shadow, which was strongly outlined on the wall opposite. It might have been mistaken even by a sober man for an intruder; and in his excited condition Farley was certain that some one had come to the rescue of his intended victim. Of course, he quickly discovered his mistake, but Al had now time to rush to the door, fling it open, and make his escape from the room. Outside the door stood one of the hotel clerks, who had evidently just arrived upon the scene, and who demanded: "What's going on in there?"