There was a brief, noisy interval, during which Emerson was too astounded to attempt an answer to the questions hurled broadcast by the new-comers; then Marsh levelled a trembling finger at him and cried, hysterically: "There he is, men. He tried to murder me. I--I'm hurt. I'll have him arrested." The seriousness of the accusation struck the young man on the instant; he turned upon the group. "I didn't do that. I heard a fight going on and ran in here--" "He's a liar," the wounded man interrupted, shrilly. "He stabbed me! See?" He tried to strip the shirt from his wounds, then fell to chattering and shaking. "Oh, God! I'm hurt." He staggered to a packing-case and sank upon it weakly fumbling at his sodden shoulder. "I didn't do that," repeated Boyd. "I don't know who stabbed him. I didn't." "Then who did?" some one demanded. "What are you doing in here? You'd a killed him in a minute," said the man with the lantern. "We'll fix you for this," a third voice threatened. "Listen," Boyd said, in a tone to make them pause. "There has been a mistake here. I was passing the building when I heard a woman scream, and I rushed in to prevent Marsh from choking her to death." "A woman!" chorused the group. "That's what I said." "Where is she now?" "I don't know. I didn't see her at all. I grappled with the first person I ran into. She must have gone out as you came in." Boyd indicated the side door, which was still ajar. "It's a lie," screamed Marsh. "It's the truth," stoutly maintained Emerson, "and there was a man with her, too. Who was she, Marsh? Who was the man?" "She--she--I don't know." "Don't lie." "I'm hurt," reiterated the stricken man, feebly. Then, seeing the bewilderment in the faces about him, he burst out anew: "Don't stand there like a lot of fools. Why don't you get him?" "If I stabbed him I must have had a knife," Emerson said, again checking the forward movement. "You may search me if you like. See?" He opened his coat and displayed his belt. "He's got a six-shooter," some one said. "Yes, and I may use it," said Emerson, quietly. "Maybe he dropped the knife," said the watchman, and began to search about the floor, followed by the others. "It may have been the woman herself who stabbed Mr. Marsh," offered Emerson. "He was strangling her when I arrived." Roused by this statement to a fresh denial, Marsh cried out: "I tell you there wasn't any woman." "And there isn't any knife either," Emerson sneered. The men paused uncertainly. Seeing that they were undecided whether to believe him or his assailant, Marsh went on: "If he hasn't a knife, then he must have had a friend with him--" "Then tell your men what we were doing in here and how you came to be alone with us in the dark." Emerson stared at his accuser curiously, but the Trust's manager seemed at a loss. "See here, Marsh, if you will tell us whom you were choking, maybe we can get at the truth of this affair."