“That something is going to happen!” declared Tony defiantly. “Now call me a fool if you like! I shan’t mind a bit, because I dare say I am one. But that’s my hunch, and I’m going to stick to it. I don’t know whether it’s something good or something darned bad, but—if something doesn’t turn up before another hour’s out, I miss my guess!” They laughed at him, but they stayed. “Tony,” said Barrison, after the lights were lighted and Tara had gone to prepare dinner, “you have something more than a hunch to go on. What is it? Out with it!” “Well,” said Tony unwillingly, “maybe I have something, but it’s too vague for me to explain, yet. Only—I’d be just as pleased if we three stuck together to-night. That’s all.” The boy spoke earnestly, and Barrison looked at him in real wonder. “Tony,” he said, “if you really know anything——” The bell rang, and Tara brought in a telegram. Barrison tore it open and read: Am in danger. Come to me, Ferrati’s road house, two miles beyond Claremont, before nine. Come, for Heaven’s sake, and mine. G. T. Barrison gazed at the words in dazed stillness for a moment; then seized his hat. “Stop, Jim!” cried Tony urgently. “You must tell us—you must tell me—what is the matter?” Barrison shook his head as he dashed to the door. “I can’t tell any one anything!” he cried, as he went. “I am needed. Isn’t that enough for any man?” He was gone, and the door had slammed after him. Tony quickly picked up the telegram which had fluttered to the floor. “Didn’t I warn him?” he muttered. CHAPTER XXIX THROUGH THE NIGHT On—on through the blue dusk of the September evening. Now that he found himself actually in the touring car that he had so impetuously engaged, Jim Barrison found his chaotic thoughts settling into some sort of approximate order, if not of repose. He began to analyze himself and this strange ride through the night. He knew that suddenly he had forgotten the habit and the prompting of years; the caution that usually made him project himself into a possible future and meet it intelligently; the restraint and sensible skepticism which had always made him consider risks and appraise them, even while being quite as willing to take them as any other brave man. He knew that he had in a single moment forgotten all the training and the custom of his mature lifetime, because a woman had asked him to come to her!