"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.
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