idea in your
head. And you came. Did anybody know where you were going when you
left home?"

She shook her head.

"Something dreadful might have happened to you," he said, and a curious
smile played about his mouth for a moment, "and no one the wiser.
Suppose you hadn't found me here to look after you? Suppose you'd found
some drunken crook just out of Sing Sing, or something worse?"

"But I _did_ find you," said Barbara, "and all is well."

"Yes--yes," he said, "all _is_ well. And you may thank your stars for
that. Why didn't you tell your taxi to wait?"

"But I did."

Again the curious smile flickered about the legless man's mouth. "Well,
he's gone."

Barbara followed the lead of Blizzard's eyes, and saw that the street in
front of his manufactory was empty. He reached for his crutches, and
swung himself down from his chair.

"Perhaps he's dropped down to Jake's saloon. Wait here. I'll see."

The bell of the outer door clanged with horrid suddenness. And then she
heard a piercing loud whistle twice repeated. And a few moments later
the sound of a motor.

"All right, Miss Ferris, I've got him."

She drew her cloak together, and joined the legless man on the sidewalk.

"Thank you very much," she said, "and good-by till to-morrow."

The taxicab driver's face had no expression whatever. He who understood
driving so well could not make out what the master was driving at.

Blizzard held open the door of the taxi, and Barbara got in. But he did
not at once close the door. Instead he turned his head and looked up the
street. Then he called out sharply:

"Hurry up! Can't you see the lady's waiting."

One came, running; a tall well-built youth, with an expression on his
face of cool, cynical courage and good humor.

"Miss Ferris," said Blizzard, "this young fellow will ride in with you
if you don't mind. You can drop him when you get out of the East Side,
and reach your own part of the city. He will see that no harm comes to
you. If you ask him questions he will answer them. Otherwise he will not
speak unless you wish."

The youth grinned a little sheepishly, and Barbara made room for him on
the seat beside her.

"He will answer for your safety," continued the legless man, "with his
ears. Where to?"

She gave the number of the house at which she was to dine, and the
legless man repeated it to the driver.

"Good-night, Mr. Blizzard, and thank you."

"Good-night, Miss Ferris, and welcome."

The legl