Before Al could reply Farley rushed out of the room and started for the staircase. In a moment he had disappeared. Al started to follow him, but the clerk seized him by the collar, shouting: "You won't get away quite as easily as all that, my fine fellow! Now, what's your little game?" "Don't keep me standing here," cried the boy, trying to shake off the man's detaining grasp. "That's all right," was the response of the zealous employee, who was under the impression that he had captured a hotel thief. "You just keep quiet. I've got you all right, and your pal won't get out of the house as easily as he thinks." By the time Al had explained the situation so that the clerk understood it, Farley had had ample time to make his escape. The man was somewhat crestfallen when he realized that he had made a mistake. "No matter," he said, "the ruffian can't have gotten out. They'd be sure to detain him downstairs." But, as they learned when they reached the office, Farley had eluded them. He had walked leisurely out, lighting a cigar, apparently in a perfectly easy, unconcerned frame of mind. Having notified the police of what had occurred, Al returned to his room, and in a few minutes had retired for the night, having first assured himself that there were no other unbidden guests in the apartment. The next morning he found a note awaiting him in the office. It read as follows: "You are a lucky youth, but your luck won't last forever. You don't lead a charmed life. I am on my mettle now, and I am going to settle you if I swing for it." There was no signature, but of course Al knew well enough who the writer of the precious communication was. He did not feel particularly worried; in fact, he had no time to worry just then, for, as he put the note in his pocket, the morning papers were placed in his hand by the clerk, with the remark: "Well, young man, you are a corker and no mistake." CHAPTER XVI. A LESSON IN JOURNALISM. Al laughed. "What do you mean by that?" he asked. "Read that interview with you in the _Banner_, and you'll find out. If you've been through half the startling adventures that the reporter says you have it is a wonder you are alive now." Our hero opened the paper with a feeling of apprehension which proved to be well grounded. Undoubtedly the interview would prove a good advertisement for the show, but it embarrassed Al greatly; he would gladly have given a hundred dollars to have been able to withdraw it. But it was too late for that now; already it had, doubtless, been read by half Rockton. The reporter had not kept faith with him. "If I say anything about your sister," he had told him, "it will only be a passing reference, couched in the most delicate terms." But instead of that he had headed the article: A BOY WONDER! AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER! A LONG-LOST SISTER! And there were other headlines that startled and dismayed Al.