to their questionings he detailed

"So that's what you've been up to for the past week!" cried Amy. "We've been wondering where you had disappeared to!" "Well, not precisely," grinned Bob; "I've been in durance vile." In response to their questionings he detailed a semi-humorous account of his abduction, detention and escape. His three auditors listened with the deepest attention. As the recital progressed to the point wherein Bob described his midnight escape, Amy, unnoticed by the others, leaned back and closed her eyes. The colour left her face for a moment, but the next instant had rushed back to her cheeks in a tide of deeper red. She thrust forward, her eyes snapping with indignation. "They are desperate; there's no doubt of it," was Thorne's comment. "And they won't stop at this. I wish the trial was to-morrow. We must get your testimony in shape before anything happens." Amy was staring across the table at them, her lips parted with horror. "You don't think they'll try anything worse!" she gasped. Bob started to reassure her, but Thorne in his matter-of-fact way broke in. "I don't doubt they'll try to get him proper, next time. We must get out papers and the sheriff after this Saleratus Bill." "He'll be almighty hard to locate," put in California John. "And I think we'd better not let Bob, here, go around alone any more." "I don't think he ought to go around at all!" Amy amended this vigorously. Bob shot at her an obliquely humorous glance, before which her own fell. Somehow the humour died from his. "Bodyguard accepted with thanks," said he, recovering himself. "I've had enough Wild West on my own account." His words and the expression of his face were facetious, but his tones were instinct with a gravity that attracted even Thorne's attention. The Supervisor glanced at the young man curiously, wondering if he were going to lose his nerve at the last.