"The probabilities are that between now and Saturday you will not be bothered. After Saturday, however, if we have made no further progress, I suggest that you stay off the streets at night, and that during the day you select only the main thoroughfares for going about the city. If you have any friends in the North Shore suburbs, and you probably have, I recommend that you do not visit them for the present. If you wish it, I will put a police guard at your home." "I don’t want to be coddled," objected Forrester. "I’m an ex-service man and I think that I can take care of myself." "You needn’t be ashamed to take precautions in a case like this," explained the Chief. "This gang is both dangerous and clever. If Mr. Nevins, whose death has just been reported, had allowed me to give him a police guard, as I wished, he would probably be alive today. You are really helping the police when you allow us to give you a police guard, for if these fellows show themselves in any way, our man is there ready to act. If anything happens to you when no one is around, then we are simply confronted with another mystery and have much of our work to do over again." "That’s very logical reasoning, Chief," agreed Forrester, "and I thank you for the offer. But I would not have a moment’s peace of mind with a detective or a policeman hanging around my heels. I am perfectly willing to take my chance. In fact, I did not come to you for protection, but simply to talk this matter over with you, and see if something definite cannot be done to eradicate these criminals. I am doubly interested, not only because I have received this notice, but from the fact that my sister is engaged to Mr. Nevins’ son, thus practically bringing his death right into our family. It is the principle of the thing which I want to fight—and if there is anything I can do to help, outside of having a detective trailing me around, I want to do it." "Well, of course," replied the Chief, "we cannot force a police guard upon you, but outside of that there is really nothing that you could do. It takes both experience and a special kind of ability to carry on detective work. To be perfectly frank with you, _novices only hamper us_. All I can say is, leave this notice with us and we will do what we can in the matter." "No," returned Forrester, "I don’t want to leave this notice. I want to keep it for my own use. My mind is fully made up to take an active part in this hunt myself. I should appreciate it if you will tell your men about me and explain that if they find me doing mysterious things in out-of-the-way places, not to mistake me for one of the criminals. If I find out anything, or have any suspicions, I will let you know." "All right," laughed the Chief. "Play around if you want to, but for the love of Mike, don’t get under our feet." The Chief and Forrester exchanged friendly good-byes and the young man passed out into La Salle Street.