ife, as it was very valuable. Now, my father
never revealed the secret of this ring to my mother, if the ring has a
secret; but I am sure that mother believed there was something
mysterious about it, for, when she was dying, she gave it to me,
telling me never to part with it. Of course I will not sell it."

"Of course not," nodded Inza; "but the horrid old thing may bring you
trouble, instead of good."

"Oh, I don't think there is much danger of that."

"The man in black----"

"Will give over his attempt to obtain it when he really knows I will
not part with it on any condition."

"He may; but his words, which you have repeated for me, make me believe
he will do something desperate in order to get possession of it. You
must look out for him--you must be on your guard constantly."

"Why, Inza!" laughed Frank, in astonishment; "I never heard you speak
like this before. You really appear as if you felt a foreboding of
some terrible thing."

"Perhaps I do," she said, very gravely, for a light-hearted girl.

Frank looked down at the ring on his hand. Surely it was an ugly
trifle to make so much trouble.

"Do you see those fine lines on the surface of the stone?" he asked.

They were faintly visible to the naked eye.

"There is something peculiar about those lines," he said. "This stone
is so hard that nothing seems to scratch it, and I am sure those lines
were not made by the ring accidentally striking against hard objects.
They were there when it came into my possession. I do not think
another line or mark has been made upon it since I have owned it."

"That is odd."

"Odd! It is remarkable. It makes it appear that these lines were
traced there with some instrument that could mark the stone, and that
they have a secret meaning."

"Who knows? Possibly that is true."

"And it may be that the man in black can read their meaning."

The red light was dying out of the western sky, and the dusky shadows
of advancing night were gathering in the village street, which was
overhung by large dark elm trees. Standing by the gate, the boy and
girl minded not the approach of darkness as they talked on.

Suddenly Inza uttered a cry and caught Frank's arm, pointing to the
opposite side of the street, and excitedly whispering:

"Look--look there! Who is that man skulking along the walk over there?"

"By Jove! it is the man in black!" declared Frank.

CHAPTER XXVII.

ATTACKED ON THE ROAD.

It was