Sautee still was kneeling as he heard Rathburn walk lightly to the front door and insert the key in the lock. He tried to cry out, but the effort resulted only in a croak in his throat. He heard the door close softly. "The Coyote!" he mumbled, passing a hand across his forehead. The echoes of galloping hoofs came to him as he scrambled to his feet and staggered toward the door. CHAPTER XX APPEAL TO THE LAW For some moments Sautee stood in the darkened doorway staring up the moonlit street. The echoes of Rathburn's flight had died away. The town was still. Sautee did not cry out, although he had recovered a considerable measure of his composure. He listened intently and finally grunted with satisfaction. "Up the road," he muttered. "That means he is making for the pass over the mountains." He walked hurriedly through his office into the living room. There he stood for a spell beside the table on which burned the lamp. His brows were knit into a heavy frown. He seemed debating a question in his mind. He tapped with nervous fingers on the table top. "Pshaw," he said aloud, his face darkening. "He's an outlaw." He put on his coat and dropped an automatic pistol into a side pocket. After another moment of hesitation he blew out the light and walked quickly out of the place, locking the door after him. He hurried up the street to the jail. He found the jailer dozing in the little front office and did not attempt to disturb him. From the jail he hurried another short distance up the street and turned in at a little house located some distance back from the sidewalk. He knocked loudly on the door, and after a brief wait repeated the performance. A light showed, and the front door opened. Mannix, the deputy, looked out. "Let me in," said Sautee briefly. "There's been another robbery." Mannix swung the door wide and stepped aside. He wore an ulster over his night clothes, and his bare feet were thrust into slippers. He scowled at the mines manager as he shut the door. "More of the company's money gone?" he asked with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. Sautee nodded. "Some twenty-odd thousand," he said soberly; "and I believe the man that got it is responsible for the holdups that have been pulled off around here." "Who got it?" Mannix asked quickly. "Rathburn," Sautee announced. Mannix smiled in undisgusted contempt. "Your own fault," he pointed out. "Wouldn't give me a chance to investigate. Said you had a scheme that would show him up one way or the other. Wouldn't let me in on it, an' I was fool enough to let you have a try, although I don't believe I could have held him anyhow."