Laramie's response was merely to the point: "He's not here." "Has he been here?" demanded Van Horn. "Yes," answered Laramie. Lefever at intervals looked virtuously from questioner to questioned. "How long ago, Jim?" continued Van Horn. Laramie regarded him steadily: "Several times in the last few weeks." "Was he here yesterday?" asked Van Horn suddenly. "I was on the Reservation yesterday." "Has he been here this morning?" "Yes." If Lefever jumped inwardly at this most unexpected admission he suppressed all outward sign of surprise; his wide open eyes did not blink and his close-cut mustache preserved its honesty undefiled. But he wondered what might be coming. "How long ago?" continued Van Horn. "Early. What's all this questioning about?" Laramie demanded in turn, looking from Van Horn to Doubleday and to Lefever. "Who wants Hawk?" "Jim, we're cleaning up the rustlers," said Van Horn. "Things have got so bad it had to be done. We want Hawk. We've got Gorman and Henry. Now, if it's a fair question, is Abe here?" "He's not." "Not in your shack?" "No." "Are you willing we should search it?" "Search hell! What do you mean?" asked Laramie curtly. "Isn't my word good as to who's in my shack?" "Jim!" Lefever held up a peacemaker's hand. "We thought maybe he might have come in since you rode away." "Well----" Laramie cooled somewhat, "if it'll do you any good, I'll look inside and see." Van Horn sarcastically demurred: "Don't take the trouble, don't take the trouble, Jim." "Still he might be there," urged Lefever, "in the way I say--he might've walked in since you went into the hills--what? No objection to my looking in there, is there, Jim?" "No man can search my cabin," snapped Laramie. "Have you got a warrant for Abe Hawk?" He threw the question sharply at Lefever. With Lefever's disclaimer, Doubleday interposed a savage rejoinder: "A rope'll fit Abe's neck better than a warrant." Laramie eyed the old cattleman unmoved: "And you're here to get me to help you slip the noose, are you?" "We're here to clean out these cattle thieves," stormed Doubleday. "There are no cattle thieves here," retorted Laramie undisturbed. "You're wasting the time you'll need on your job. Move on!" Even Van Horn was taken aback by the rude command; he pulled his horse around: "Look here, Jim; let me talk to you a minute alone." Laramie, guiding his horse with his heels, followed Van Horn twenty feet away and listened: "Jim, I'm leading this bunch, and whatever troubles you've had with Barb and his friends, now's the time to fix 'em up. They'll give you the best of it. If you've got any line on where Hawk is, say so and it puts you with us; say nothing, and you're against us." Laramie eyed him without a quiver: "I'm against you, Harry."