," said he, in a low and
suggestive tone.

"To see me?" questioned the man. "What about?"

"Well, I must see you alone. _The sky may be rather red_, you know."

At the last words the secret service man started slightly. "That's
true, and _I don't like a red sky_," he answered. "Come into the
house. You just caught me in time."

He led the way inside and up to his den, closing and locking the door
after him.

"Now, then, what do you want to see me about?" he demanded sharply.

"Don't you recognize me?"

"I must say I do not, although your face seems familiar."

"I am Number Four."

There was a pause, and Adam Adams studied the face before him closely.

"Well?" came from the secret service man coldly.

"There has been trouble, Mr. Watkins. Matlock Styles sent me to you."

"The dickens you say. What right has he--"

"He had to do it. Things are getting warm."

"He should have come himself."

"He couldn't do it. The detectives are shadowing every movement he
makes. He didn't even dare to drop you a letter."

"What's the cause of the trouble?"

"Those queers in the safe."

"Then the authorities got them?"

"Yes, and they've sent down some New York detectives, who are watching
everybody."

"Bah! Styles must be getting nervous."

"He told me to tell you something more. They found something else.
It's about the poison powder that was used. You made some kind of a
mistake--"

John Watkins leaped to his feet and turned pale.

"I made a mistake?" he cried. "How? For Heaven's sake, man, tell me
all!" He went to a cupboard, got out some brandy and drank a stiff
portion.

"That is what Styles wants to find out. He thinks you put out some
clews that point to him. He says if you did he will blow you sky-high.
He wants the truth from you, and he wants it right away."

"Clews? Against him? He is crazy. I never put out a single clew
against him. Why should I? Wasn't it arranged that we should fix it
against the girl, and didn't I even go to the trouble to spy on
Langmore and get the combination of the safe--although it didn't do any
good. And then after the job was done, didn't I--" The secret
service man came to an abrupt stop, as if fearing he had said too much.
"Look here, did he tell you all this, or is this some game?"

"Hey!" exclaimed Adam Adams, pretending to be amazed. "Did he tell me.
See here, I don't care if you are the boss, I am not going to run the
risk of being