CHAPTER IV. 

HAL STANDS UP FOR HIMSELF. 

Hal now found himself in a tight situation. Felix Hardwick had him by the throat, and was slowly but surely choking him. 

"Don't! don't!" cried Mr. Sumner, in great alarm. 

"The miserable tramp!" cried Hardwick. "I'll teach him to call a gentleman a thief." 

He continued his choking process, paying no attention to his employer's efforts to haul him away. 

But by this time Hal began to realize that Hardwick was in earnest. He began to kick, and presently landed a blow in the book-keeper's stomach that completely winded the man. 

Hardwick relaxed his hold, and Hal sprang away. 

"Stop! stop!" ordered Mr. Sumner. "I will not have such disgraceful scenes in this office." 

"But he intimated I was a thief," said Hardwick, trying to catch his wind. 

"And he said the same of me," retorted Hal. 

"So you are!" 

"I never stole a thing in my life, Mr. Sumner." Hal turned to the broker. "And I am not a tramp." 

"Then supposing we make it a poor-house beggar," returned Hardwick, with a short laugh. 

Hal turned red. The shot was a cruel one. 

"Hush! Hardwick," cried Mr. Sumner. "There is no necessity for such language." 

The broker turned to Hal. 

"You just made a strange statement, Carson," he said. "How do you know Mr. Hardwick contemplated robbing the safe?" 

"Because I do." 

"That is no answer." 

"I overheard him and Mr. Allen talking about the bonds being in the safe." 

"When?" 

"The evening I came to New York."  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who's in a tussle?
2. Who's having a scrap?
3. Who is in a fight?
Q2:
1. Who is trying to stop Hal and Felix?
2. Who is attempting to end Hal and Felix's fight?
3. Who is making an effort to stop Hal and Felix's fight?
Q3:
1. Who is more aggressive, Hal or Felix?
2. Is Hal or Felix being more aggressive?
3. Who is the more aggravated one, between Felix and Hal?
Q4:
1. What is Felix doing?
2. How is Felix acting?
3. What action is Felix taking?
Q5:
1. What did Hal do in response to Felix's movements?
2. How did Hal respond to what Felix was doing?
3. What was Hal's response to the movements of Felix?
Q6:
1. Did Hal get a good hit in?
2. Did Hal manage to strike Felix?
3. Was Hal able to strike a blow to his opponent?
Q7:
1. Where did Hal strike Felix?
2. Where did Felix get struck by Hal?
3. What part of Felix's body did Hal hit?
