"Susan," said Florence, as she came into breakfast after her exhilarating ride, "did you hear pistol shots last night?" "I heard some noise, but I was so sleepy I didn't try to figure out what it was." "Did you, Jones?" "Yes, Miss Florence. The shots came from the street. A policeman came running up later and said he saw two automobiles on the run. But evidently there wasn't anybody hurt. One has to be careful at night nowadays. There are pretty bad men abroad. Did you enjoy the ride?" "Very much. But there were some spots of blood on the walk near the corner." "Blood?" Jones caught the back of a chair to steady himself. "Yes. So some one was hurt. Oh, let's leave this place!" impulsively. "Let us go back to Miss Farlow's. You could find a place in the village, Jones. But if I stay here much longer in this state of unrest I shall lose faith in everything and everybody. Whoever my father's enemies are, they do not lack persistence. They have made two attempts against my liberty, and sooner or later they will succeed. I keep looking over my shoulder all the time. If I hear a noise I jump." "Miss Florence, if I thought it wise, you should be packed off to Miss Farlow's this minute. But not an hour of the day or night passes without this house being watched. I seldom see anybody about. I can only sense the presence of a watcher. At Miss Farlow's you would be far more like a prisoner than here. I could not accompany you. I am forbidden to desert this house." "My father's orders?" Jones signified neither one way nor the other. He merely gazed stolidly at the rug. "That blood!" She sprang from her chair, horrified. "It was his! He was here last night and they shot him! Oh!" "There, there, Miss Florence! The man was only slightly wounded. He's where they never will look for him." Then Jones continued, as with an effort: "Trust me, Miss Florence. It would not pay to run away. The whole affair would be repeated elsewhere. We might go to the other end of the world, but it would not serve us in the least. It is not a question of escape, but of who shall vanquish the other. There is nothing to do but remain here and fight, fight, fight. We have put four of them in the Tombs, to say nothing of the gunmen. That is what we must do--put them in a safe place, one by one, till we reach the master. Then only may we breathe in safety. But if they watch, so do we. There is never a moment when help is not within reach, no matter where you go. So long as you do not deceive me, no real harm shall befall you. Don't cry. Be your father's daughter, as I am his servant." "I am very unhappy!" And Florence threw her arms around Susan and laid her head upon her friend's shoulder. "Poor child!" Susan, however, recognized the wisdom of Jones' statements. They were safest here.