Rathburn looked at him closely, his brows wrinkling. "Yes, I do," said the boy, nodding. "Did he tell you who he is, sis?" he asked, looking at the girl. "Now, Frankie, we don't care who the man is," she reproved. "He was hungry and he's welcome. What's the matter with you?" "I guess you'd be surprised if you knew as much as I do," the boy boasted. "I guess you'd be surprised all right. I do." "I've been surprised more than once at things you knew," the girl said with a laugh. "Yes, but I guess you'd be surprised all right if you knew who _he_ is," cried the boy, pointing at Rathburn. "Come, now, young fellow, don't be getting all het up here," said Rathburn slowly, drawing tobacco and papers from his shirt pocket. "What do you find to do with yourself around here?" But the youngster was not to be diverted from his topic. "I was lookin' at your horse," he said, his eyes shining. "That's how I know for sure an' certain who you are." Rathburn gazed at the boy sternly as he touched a match to his brown-paper cigarette. "My horse is all right, ain't he?" "Sure he is," said the boy eagerly. "I bet he can go some, too. He'd have to go for you to have him, wouldn't he? You're The Coyote!" Rathburn continued to smile with an amused tolerance. But the girl gave a start; her hands flew to her breast, and she stared at the man with wide-open eyes. "Frankie! What are you saying?" she exclaimed. The boy triumphantly brought his hands from behind his back. He held out a poster. "His horse has got CC2 for a brand, just like it says in this bill Ed brought from town!" he cried. "He's The Coyote, all right. But I won't tell," he added quickly, looking at Rathburn. The man avoided the girl's eyes. The boy laid the poster on the table where she could read it again, word for word. "Tall--light in complexion--gray or blue eyes--good teeth--horse branded CC2--dangerous----" And this man was tall and blond, with gray eyes. Five hundred dollars reward! "I won't tell anybody you've been here," the boy continued. "We won't tell, will we, sis?" He looked at the girl imploringly. "My brother Ed says what you want you take," said the boy, gazing at the man in admiration. "An' he says you don't rob anybody that can't afford it! He says the banks are insured an' you've been a friend to more'n one that's just gettin' a start in the cattle. I won't tell anybody you've been here, an' I won't let sis tell anybody, either!" Rathburn was smiling wistfully. "Always tell the truth, sonny," he said in a low voice. "Don't forget that. I wouldn't want you to lie for me. Any man that would want you to lie for him wouldn't be a man a-tall, son. See?" "But old Brown, the judge, or the sheriff might come along an' want to know if you'd been here!" said the boy in breathless excitement.