“You will be needed to protect Mr. Horton,” said I sarcastically. “Oh, what a task!” she said gaily. “I shall be ready.” And she turned away before I could put in another word, and I walked down the room with Mrs. Knapp. “And so Mr. Knapp is coming home to-morrow?” I said. Mrs. Knapp gave me a quick look. “Yes,” she said. There was something in her tone that set me to thinking that there was more than I knew behind Mr. Knapp's sudden return. “I hope he is not ill,” I said politely. Mrs. Knapp appeared to be considering some point deeply, and did not answer for a little. Then she shook her head as though the idea was not to her liking. “I think you will find him all right when you see him. But here--you must meet Mr. and Mrs. Carter. They are just from the East, and very charming people, and as you are to do them the honors on Monday evening, you should know them.” Mr. and Mrs. Carter had pleasant faces and few ideas, and as the conversational fire soon burned low I sought Mrs. Knapp and took my leave. Luella was nowhere to be seen. “You must be sure that you are well-guarded,” said Mrs. Knapp. “It quite gives me the terrors to think of those murderous fellows. And since you told me of that last plot to call you down to Borton's, I have a presentiment that some special danger is ahead of you. Be cautious as well as brave.” She had followed me into the hall, and spoke her warning freely. There was a sadness in her eyes that seemed as though she would dissuade me from my task. I thanked her as she pressed my hand, and, with no Luella awaiting me by the stair, I took my way down the stone steps, between the bronze lions, and joined Porter and Barkhouse on the sidewalk. CHAPTER XVI AN ECHO OF WARNING “All quiet?” I asked of my guards, as we took our way down the street. “All quiet,” said Porter. “You'd better tell him,” said Barkhouse. “Oh, yes,” said Porter, as if in sudden recollection. “Dicky Nahl was along here, and he said Terrill and Meeker and the other gang was holding a powwow at Borton's, and we'd best look out for surprises.” “Was that all?” “Well, he said he guessed there was a new deal on hand, and they was a-buzzin' like a nest of hornets. It was hornets, wasn't it, Bob?” “Hornets was what he said,” repeated Barkhouse stolidly. “Where's Dicky now?” I asked. “I ain't good at guessing,” said Porter, “and Bob's nothing at all at it.” “Well,” said I, “we had better go down to Borton's and look into this matter.” There was silence for a time. My guards walked beside me without speaking, but I felt the protest in their manner. At last Barkhouse said respectfully: “There's no use to do that, sir. You'd better send some one that ain't so likely to be nabbed, or that won't matter much if he is. We'd be in a pretty fix if you was to be took.” “Here comes Dicky, now,” said Porter, as a dark figure came swinging lightly along.