ewdly.

Every one laughed. It was so plain that Janus _did_ want to say
things, yet restrained himself because of his position and the party he
was conducting.

"Forget it!" he exploded. "I haven't any enemies. Nobody but a crazy
man would try to interfere with Janus Grubb. They know me. Why, there
isn't a man in the state who wouldn't swear by me. If you think I'm
not dependable, that----"

"No, Mr. Grubb," hastily interposed Miss Elting. "Please do not
misunderstand me. We are quite satisfied with you, but I hope you will
be cautious. It is plain that you _have_ an enemy, and, what is more,
I am positive that I have talked with that man, and that we had better
proceed with caution."

"I'll take care of the rascal, once I set eyes on him," growled the
guide. "What-for-looking man was he?"

Miss Elting described her caller, Harriet adding a few words with
reference to the peculiar hitch of Collins's shoulders as he walked.
Janus eyed the guardian with a worried look. His fingers opened and
closed nervously. He gulped, then turned to her.

"Perhaps I'd better not go on with you. I'll get some one else to take
you through the mountains. I----"

"No, Mr. Grubb. You will go on with us," insisted Miss Elting. "We
are not afraid. We are quite used to taking care of ourselves, but I
wished to impress upon you the advisability of being on your guard. If
you have an enemy who intends to do you harm, naturally we shall be
likely to suffer with you. For that reason I urge caution. Another
thing about which I should like to speak is the burning of the bridge
this evening."

Janus braced himself. It was as if he looked for an inquiry on this
subject, but had been hoping to avoid it.

"Yes?"

"I wish some one would explain how the bridge happened to catch fire,"
urged the guardian.

"So do I," he admitted, still consulting his abundant whiskers. "What
do you think?"

"I think some one set it on fire," declared Jane explosively. "I'd
like to meet the villain on the broad highway, some time when I have my
car!"

"Yes, it was set on fire," agreed Hazel, nodding reflectively. "I
thought so at the time. Since thinking over the matter further I am
more positive of it than ever. It was an awful thing to do."

"The person must have known that we could get away," suggested Harriet.
"I believe it was done to spite Mr. Grubb."

"To spite me!" shouted Janus. "What do you mean?"

"I believe the p