Rathburn laughed mirthlessly, as he entered the eating house. There was no doubt of it--he was a fool. He continued to think, as he ate; by the time he had finished he found himself in a bad mental state. He wiped some moisture from his forehead, as he left the restaurant. For a moment he felt panicky. He was wavering! The tenor of his thoughts caused him to abandon his caution. He turned the corner by the State Bank of Hope and walked boldly down the street. Few pedestrians were about. None took any special notice of him, and none recognized him. He turned in at the resort he had visited when he first arrived that morning. He started, as he entered the place. A deep frown gathered on his face. Gomez, Eagen's Mexican henchman, was at the bar. At first Rathburn feigned ignorance of the Mexican's presence; but Gomez smiled at him, his white teeth glistening against his swarthy skin. Rathburn marveled at the audacity of the Mexican, who undoubtedly was one of those who had held up the stage the day before, in coming boldly into town. Then he recollected that the sheriff had mentioned he had an idea of who was responsible for that job, but had been unable to get a line on his man. Eagen and his gang were evidently well covered up. If such were the case, Eagen himself might be in town. It was because he thought he might learn something from Gomez that he finally acknowledged the fellow's greeting by a nod. The Mexican left the bar and walked up to him. "We are not afraid to come in town, Mr. Coyote," he murmured. "Drop that name," said Rathburn sharply in an undertone. "Is Eagen here?" "He is here," replied Gomez with another display of his white teeth. "You want to see him? He is up talking with Mr. Doane." Doane! Rathburn remembered the name instantly as being the same which had been spoken by Laura Mallory the night before. He remembered, too, the man who had been there and who had driven away to town in the little car. He surmised that this man had been Doane; and it had been he who had brought the information of Rathburn's arrival and the posse's pursuit to the girl. "You want to see him?" asked Gomez craftily. Rathburn had a consuming aversion for the wily Mexican. He hated the shifty look in his eyes and his oily tongue. "Not yet," he answered shortly. "He will be here maybe," said Gomez eagerly. "It is you change your mind?" Rathburn scowled. The Mexican then knew all about the proposition Eagen had made to him the night before. Perhaps he could get more information from him than he had suspected. "What job is it Eagen is planning?" he asked in a low voice. There were several men at the bar now, and both Rathburn and the Mexican were keeping an eye upon them. "Oh, that he will have to tell you himself when you are ready," Gomez replied. Rathburn snorted in keen disgust. But Gomez sidled up to him.