"Them's the best," the other added. "There's another trail going out below town that follows southeast along a big ridge, but that trail's as far as the road. When you goin' up?" "I dunno," replied Rathburn noncommittally. "Say, I guess I know where that cabin is on the left side of the road going up. I stopped at a cabin up there coming down an' asked a gal how far it was to town----" "That's it," said the barn man. "That's the one. Trail starts right back of that cabin." Rathburn yawned again. "Smart-lookin' gal," he observed, digging for his tobacco and papers. "Who is she?" "That's Joe Carlisle's sister. Anyway, he says she is. There's been some talk. Carlisle lives there when he ain't out in the hills or on a gamblin' trip to some other town." "I see. Well, old-timer, I ain't hung on the feed bag since morning, an' I'm going on a still hunt for some grub." Rathburn went to the Red Feather for his dinner. He was thoughtful through the meal and kept an eye out for Carlisle, but didn't see him. During the remainder of the afternoon he hung about the Red Feather and other resorts, but did not see Carlisle. That evening, as he was returning to the hotel, he met Mannix. The deputy looked at him with a scowl in which there was a mixture of curiosity. Rathburn suddenly remembered what Sautee had said about his company being on the outs with the county administration. If such was the case, Rathburn reflected, how did it come that Sautee had been able to effect his release so easily? He stopped as he drew alongside of the deputy. "This man Sautee," he drawled, looking Mannix square in the eye; "he must have a good drag with the county seat, eh?" The deputy's scowl deepened. "He didn't get you out by word of mouth alone," he said sharply. "I haven't got anything on you, Rathburn--yet." Rathburn smiled. "I reckon you're a sheriff after my own heart," he said enigmatically, and moved on. Mannix looked back after him for a moment, then continued on his way. Rathburn had dinner that night at the hotel, and it was during the course of a number of pleasantries with the waitress, who thought he was looking for work, that he ascertained that Sautee had a little two-room building at the lower end of the street, the front half of which served as an office and the rear half as living quarters. At nine o'clock he went to his room. He lighted the oil lamp, pulled down the window shade, sat down in a chair to one side of the door to wait. An hour passed with no sound save occasional footfalls in the hall and the drone of the wind in the trees outside. Another hour had nearly been consumed in waiting when Rathburn heard some one coming up the stairs. The footfalls were soft, catlike. He could hardly hear them, and it was this fact which made him instantly alert. The footfalls now sounded in the hallway. They were nearer his room. He rose; stepped close to the side of the door. Then came a soft knock.