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creditably. It was getting dusk by that time, and I resolved to finish one more window and then go for my lit tle stipend. Creak! There was a snap. Bang! I shot through space. What happened was this: In my clumsiness and baffled by the semi- U the harness on a frail screen hoop, instead of in the staunch holding slots. One rope gave way at once. The other swung free for a moment tore' out of .the hook and I dropped. That sway sideways saved my life, for, one story descended, I landed flat, on my back across the grated balcony of a fire escape. I was bruised, half-stunned. I lay still, wondering if any bones were broken and looking through an open window into a small business office. Two men were its occupants. One an 'old man, dignified but apparently much disturbed, was facing a young er one, whose shrewd eyes and foxy siaeiong glance proclaimed the schemer. -It was the latter who spoke, sharply, exactingly: ' "Well, Mr. Bowen, your answer?" "I have come to accept your terms," was the dreary reply. "It may mean ruin to me, but I am at -your mercy.- In that," and he placed a packet on a table in the middle of the room, "is thp fifty thousand dol lars in money and salable securities." The other lunged down upon it, opened it, clawed over its contents with the eager talons of a true harpy. He4rplaced it, went over to a desk in a corner of a room and took thence a folded paper. "Listen to me," spoke the old man, leaning heavily on the cane he car ried, as though weak and invalid. "When you take from me that jacket you rob me of all my available liquid capital. Unless I can borrow to re finance my business I am a ruined man. At least return me one-half pf the $50,000. Loan it to me, and let me pay it later. My word' is as good as my bond." "Not much !" sneered the other. "I want my price and I want it now. Here is the paper through which I can close your establishment tomor'-' row and prevent you from sending out a single engine built on the Lei Vinson patent." "But I bought the patent. I paid for it fairly." "And I hold an earlier transfer in this document." "A forgery!" "Can you pjrove it?" "Unfortunately, no!" groaned the wretched John Bowen, "but you know that it s. Levinson has died. You have made a clever transfer, previously dated." "Which will stand in the law," de clared the other triumphantly. "Do you back out of the bargain?" "No! no" cried Mr. Bowen. "Give me the document," and he looked it over. Then he took a match from his pocket, ignited the paper, watched it crumble to nothingness and took up his hat. "I am weak and ill," he added with a deep sigh; "the eleva tors have stopped running. I must ask you to help me to my machine." "Sure enough!" piped the other readily. "Come on," and they left the room. Now the instant they were gone I seized the essence of this adventure clearly in my mind. I believed that a heartless villain was robbing an honest old man. I acted quickly. Rousing myself, I was inside the room in a moment. I secured the packet, I descended the fire escape, I was down in the street. Mr. Bowen had just stepped into an automobile. The man who had accompanied him to the street was hastening back after his anticipated booty. The chauffeur headed the ma chine my way. I leaped to the run ning board. "What is this?" quavered the as tonished gentleman. "Le.t me in with you, Mr. Bowen," I said, rapidly. "I have something o importance to say -to you. Sir, Ihav "-'Miff Till iili