"He turned on me with terrible ferocity; then I recognized the fumes of wine on his breath.
"'This is the second time you have interfered in my business, Garner!' he cried, fairly foaming with rage. 'Once when you attempted to take Dorothy Glenn from me on the Staten Island boat, and—now.'
"I fell back as though he had struck me a terrible blow. In an instant I recognized him. I had been looking for him ever since Dorothy's flight. I had caught but a fleeting glimpse of him in the past, and his whiskers made such a change in him, no wonder I did not recognize him as he crossed our threshold; and this accounted for the manner in which he had managed to avoid me in my own household.
"'You! You fiend incarnate, have I found you at last? I could kill you here and now!' I cried as my fingers tightened around his throat. 'But I will give you one chance to save yourself. Name your own place as to where you will meet me. I did not recognize you before. You shall tell me what you have done with Dorothy Glenn, or I will kill you!'
"Those words seemed to recall him to his senses. He drew back defiantly, and his flashing black eyes met mine, while a terrible sneer curled his lips.
"'You shall never know whether Dorothy Glenn is living or dead!' he cried.
"I could have borne anything better than those scathing words from the lips of the man who had taken from me the girl I loved.
"'You will find me at my home up to the hour of noon,' he said. 'Make any arrangements you deem necessary.'
"I turned on my heel and left him; and here I am, awaiting a summons from him."
Mrs. Garner had risen slowly to her feet. The import of his words had just begun to dawn upon her.