Rathburn suddenly opened the door, and Sautee started back, blinking his eyes. The mines manager peered about the room, then entered swiftly. "You rather startled me," he accused with a forced smile. Rathburn closed the door softly and turned the key in the lock. "I'm just taking natural precautions," he explained. Sautee shook his head and put a finger to his lips. "Not so loud," he warned. "These walls"--he waved a hand about--"are all ears." He took a package from beneath his coat and handed it to Rathburn. "Put it in your shirt," he instructed. "Deliver it to the office at the mine and take the bookkeeper's receipt. Then report to my office here in town. I wish you luck, and I want you to know that I have the utmost confidence in you." "You keep such large sums on hand all the time?" Rathburn asked, putting the package in his shirt. He was mindful of the fact that a similar sum had been stolen the day before from the truck driver. "There's a private bank here," answered Sautee frowningly. "He let me have it, but he's already sent to the county seat for more cash which will come by auto express to-morrow, probably. Anyway, the bank'll get most of this back, so their cash won't be short long." Rathburn nodded. "Let's see," he suggested. "There was a little item of five hundred between us for my serving--am I right?" "There is such an item," snapped out Sautee; "when you've delivered." "Of course," replied Rathburn. "I couldn't expect to be paid in advance. I'm to deliver the money at the mine and report to you for the five hundred." "Exactly," said Sautee. "Which way you figure on going up?" he asked curiously. "Don't know much about the trails," Rathburn answered. "An' it mightn't attract suspicion if I just struck right out on the road." Sautee shrugged. "Well, that's up to you," he said. "Keep your eye peeled. I don't think any one knows I drew that money from the bank, but I didn't think any one knew I stuck that package under the truck driver's seat, either." He turned toward the door. "There's just one other little matter," said Rathburn softly. "You see nobody knows anything about this deal but you an' me. Maybe it would be best for my own protection that you scribbled something on a piece of paper to show what our arrangement is." Sautee scowled again, hesitated, then smiled. He drew an envelope from a pocket, extracted its contents, tore it open at each end, and wrote on the blank side: Due Rathburn five hundred dollars when he has delivered package intrusted to him by me at the Dixie Queen mine office. GEORGE SAUTEE. Rathburn nodded in satisfaction as he took the slip of paper and tucked it into his shirt pocket. The wording of the note was a bit complicated, but it bore Sautee's signature. It was at least evidence that there _had_ been an agreement. "Everything set?" asked Sautee. "All cinched up an' ready to go," replied Rathburn. "How soon you going to start?" asked Sautee as he unlocked the door.