“‘Come in here,’ a sharp voice said, ‘we can talk better here than in the cafe.’
“Before Jim could make any resistance he was pulled into a dark hallway. Two men had hold of him and something wet was dashed across his face and over his hands, then he felt some liquid poured over his clothes and some object thrust into his pocket.
“Then the door opened again and he was flung out into the street. Jim was unharmed, but amazed at such treatment. He had not been hurt and was at a loss to understand what it all meant.
“The incident had taken but a few moments in its course. At first a thought of foul play had flashed across Jim. Then it occurred to him to look at his hands which were wet with some substance.
“He gave a great cry of horror as he did so. There was blood upon them.
“In fact his hands and face and clothes were almost soaked in red blood. For an instant he was horrified.
“What mystery was this? But he quickly changed his opinion and actually laughed.
“It occurred to him as a practical joke upon the part of his club friends. Satisfied of this he resolved to get even with them.
“He tried to open the door, through which he had been pulled. It was locked and would not yield.
“Then he decided to go back to his room and wash off the blood. But he had not gone ten steps before he was met in the glare of the lamplight by one of the club men.