Rathburn smiled mysteriously at Lamy who was shivering with a case of nerves. "I can't understand who that was with him--or following him," came Brown's voice. "Somebody must have seen him getting away and set out on the trail while it was hot." "Either that or saw him beating it somewheres on the trail east of town an' took after him on suspicion," drawled the sheriff. "'Spect everybody around here has seen those reward notices you put out." "That's so," said Brown. "I had the right hunch when I got the tip he'd left his Arizona hangout, sheriff. I figured he'd head this way. Then he had the nerve--well, you know what happened in my office." The sheriff chuckled. Then he spoke angrily. "He can't pull any of his stunts in my territory," he said growlingly. "I'll hunt him down if I have to put every man I've got on the trail an' keep 'em there. I figure, though," he added hopefully, "that we've got him cornered in or around this valley. We traced 'em here, and we got sight of 'em yesterday. We'll have 'em before night!" "I hope so," said Brown grimly. "I've given orders to shoot to kill and not to miss," thundered the sheriff. "But I guess the rewards offered for him would kind of steady the aim of the man that got a crack at him." Rathburn's face went white, and his eyes shot fire as he listened to the sheriff's cruel laugh in which the others in the room above now joined. Lamy signaled that he wished to whisper in his ear, and Rathburn bent his head, although he kept the gun handy. "I'm not goin' to risk shootin' anybody if we should be found or cornered," Lamy whispered. "I thought you ought to know----" "If we're cornered you leave it to me," Rathburn came back. "I have reasons for everything I'm doing. An' don't forget that I'd rather be grabbed for this simple trick of yours in Dry Lake than for one or two jobs over in Arizona. If things go wrong keep your mouth shut--don't talk! If you start talking any time I'll try to kill you!" Lamy drew back from the ferocity in Rathburn's tone and manner. That menacing message was again in Rathburn's eyes. "Who's that boy out there?" the sheriff called sharply. "Go in and say how-do-you-do," came the girl's voice from the kitchen. "It's my brother, Frankie." "Come here, Frankie," said the sheriff. The pair below heard light footsteps on the floor above. "That's a fine crop of freckles you've got," said the sheriff. Rathburn saw Lamy put a hand to his face and make a grimace. "Listen, Frankie, did you see anybody around here this morning?" asked the sheriff. "Who--who you looking for?" asked the boy. Rathburn started; his body suddenly tensed. "I'm looking for an outlaw they call The Coyote," returned the sheriff. "Ever hear of him?" "Y-e-s. Ed brought home a notice about a reward for him." "That's the man we're after. Rides a dun-colored horse; tall, light-complexioned. Seen anybody like that around here?"