Yet, except for a slow stiffening of his muscles, Haydon betrayed no fear. There was a slight smile on his lips; his eyes met Harlan's steadily and unblinkingly. In them was a glint of that mysterious humor which other men had seen in them. "I know you're lightning on the draw, Harlan," he said, his faint smile fading a trifle. "I wouldn't have a chance with you; I'm not a gun-fighter. For that reason I don't want any disagreement with you. And I've heard enough about you to know that you don't shoot unless the other fellow is out to 'get' you. "We won't have any trouble. Be fair. As the man who will ultimately take charge of the Rancho Seco--since Miss Barbara has been good enough to encourage me--I would like to know some things. I've heard that Lane Morgan was killed at Sentinel Rock, and that you were with him when he died--and just before. Did he give you authority to take charge of the Rancho Seco?" "He told me to take hold." "A written order?" "His word." "He said nothing else; there were no papers on him--nothing of value?" Neither man had permitted his eyes to waver from the other's since Harlan had advanced; and they now stood, with only the few feet of space between them, looking steadily at each other. Harlan saw in Haydon's eyes a furtive, stealthy gleam as of cupidity glossed over with a pretense of frank curiosity. He sensed greed in Haydon's gaze, and knowledge of a mysterious quality. Haydon knew something about Lane Morgan's errand to Pardo; he knew why the man had started for Pardo, and what had been on his person at the time of his death. Harlan was convinced of that; and the light in his eyes as he looked into Haydon's reflected the distrust and the contempt he had for the man. "What do you think Morgan had in his clothes?" he questioned suddenly. A slow flush of color stole into Haydon's cheeks, then receded, leaving him a trifle pale. He laughed, with a pretense of mockery. "You ought to know," he said, a snarl in his voice. "You must have searched him." Harlan grinned with feline mirthlessness. And he stepped back a little, knowledge and satisfaction in his eyes. For he had "looked Haydon over," following Morgan's instructions. He had purposely permitted Haydon to question him, expecting that during the exchange of talk the man would say something that would corroborate the opinion that Harlan had instantly formed, that Haydon was not to be trusted. And Haydon's snarl; the cupidity in his eyes, and his ill-veiled eagerness had convinced Harlan. Harlan did not resent Haydon's manner; he was too pleased over his discovery that Haydon possessed traits of character that unfitted him for an alliance with Barbara. And it would be his business to bring those traits out, so that Barbara could see them unmistakably.