“A stranger—a woman I had never seen but once before in my life. Then she was in a plot to blackmail me. The plot failed, and she was ready to turn against her accomplices. What do you know of her?” “Nothing, save that she is known in the sporting circles of St. Jo. as Queen Mab, and she is something of a mystery. There’s not a gay girl in the city who would not give anything to be like Queen Mab.” “I am sure the woman is not all bad. It was rare good fortune that brought your mother along there just as we escaped from the place.” “One reason why I came here was to thank you,” said the girl; “but there is another reason.” “Yes?” “Yes; I want to warn you.” “To warn me?” “You have had some trouble with Sam Hooker.” “I have.” “Everybody in town has heard of it. Sam is in disgrace, but he has sworn a great oath that he’ll disgrace you worse than you did him.” “Oh, he has?” “Yes, I heard it from his brother Joe. You know Joe kind of—kind of—— Well, he calls at our house.” The girl’s confusion explained her meaning. The red blood mounted to her face now, and Frank saw she was ashamed of Joe Hooker when she compared him with some of the flashy city youths she had met. “He told you?” questioned Merriwell. “Yes; I pumped it all out of him. He doesn’t know I ever met you in all my life. I slipped in here on the sly, so they would not catch on that I had warned you.” “It was kind of you.” “No; it won’t half pay back what you did for me—the risk you ran. I was thinking of that.” To Frank it seemed a case of “bread on the waters.” But he had not learned what plot had been formed against him, and his curiosity was aroused. “Joe says Sam is just furious,” the girl went on. “He is fierce enough to kill you. He would kill you, if he dared. He loaded up his guns and swore a mighty oath to make you regret the day you were born.” “There is considerable wind about Sam Hooker,” said Frank; “but still he might be driven to something desperate.” “You know he’s been a cowboy?” “Well, he says so.” “He really has, and he can throw a lasso.” “What of that?” “He’s coming to the show to-night.” “What then?” “He says he’s going to bring his lasso.” “Why?” “And he swears he will rope you from the stage.” “Is that it?” cried Merry. “So that is what he means to do?” “Yes. He says he’ll drag you over the footlights and clean out of the theater.” “Well, this is rather interesting!” exclaimed Frank; “and I am greatly obliged to you for telling me about it.” “What will you do?” “I shall be prepared for Mr. Hooker, be sure of that. But you must take care not to let him know you have told me.” “Little danger of that. I wouldn’t dare. Joe invited me to come to the theater with him to see Sam square the score. I shall be here, and I do hope you will look out.” “Don’t worry at all about that, Miss Blaney. Now that I know what is coming, there is not the least danger in the world that I shall not be ready.”