"I am rid of my dangerous rival at last!"
But there had been an unsuspected witness of the deadly crime he had committed.
From a window above a young man had been looking down just as the rivals closed in mortal combat.
He had come to the place to call on a friend who roomed there, and learned that he was out, but was told that he would be in directly.
Without removing his hat and overcoat, he walked restlessly up and down the room, and at last became so impatient that he pushed up the window and looked out to see if his friend was yet in sight.
But the narrow street, its snowy expanse lighted by the flaring electric lights, was deserted, save by two men, who hurled themselves with tremendous force against each other in deadly conflict.
Mr. Hill was not alarmed at first. He smiled, and murmured, whimsically:
"Whew! A prize-fight! I bet on the one that whips!"
Oblivious of the cold air that rushed through the open window into his friend's warm steam-heated apartment, he leaned out and watched the contest, adding:
"I don't suppose they would thank me for spoiling their sport, so I won't interfere. It's the blue-coat's business to break it up, but they're never in place when needed."