"Correct again," Allen said dryly. "Darn it! I knows everythin', but Jack won't believe me, 'cause I ain't got legal proof! That's the worst of tryin' to do things lawfully. Reckon I'll have to stick to outlaws' law," he grumbled. CHAPTER XVI THE MAIL ROBBER It was close to seven the following morning when Pop Howes and his wife returned home. They found Slivers Hart and Jim-twin Allen finishing their breakfast. "Anythin' happen last night?" Pop asked eagerly. "Nothin' a-tall," Jim replied, with his mouth full of bacon and bread. He and Slivers had spent the night in erasing the signs of the fight. "Then the thing didn't work?" Pop asked, and his face clouded. "She sure did!" Allen said quickly. "I figger yuh don't have to worry none!" Directly after breakfast Slivers Hart started for town, and Pop went out to inspect his mine. Mrs. Howes took Allen by the hand and led him into the sitting room. She pointed an accusing finger at some holes in the wall opposite the door. "Nothin' happened last night! Then please tell me how them holes got in that wall. Now don't lie. I know--yuh saved Pop an' me once before when we was in Arizona, an' yuh did it ag'in last night! They are buckshot marks, an' they was intended for Pop. Oh, Jim, Jim! Yuh are too good to go on bein' all alone!" she ended with a sigh, and there were tears in her eyes. "Shucks, ma'am! Where did yuh get all the loose language at?" Allen asked nervously and twisted his hat in his hand. "Will there ever come a time when I kin repay yuh for what yuh have done for Pop an' me?" she asked wistfully. "Sure! Didn't yuh feed me pie an' let me steal some for my hosses? Ain't we even then?" She looked at him and shook her head. "You know, Jim, I guess you really think that makes us even!" "It sure does!" Allen said decisively, as he picked up his rifle. "Ma'am, don't yuh worry--things is comin' out pretty! I'm sayin' good-by, 'cause I don't figger on comin' back!" "Are yuh sayin' good-by to Jack?" "Me? Not any! After this mornin', I hopes I don't see him again for a long time!" "Why?" Allen hesitated. "'Cause if he ketches me here, he'll sure enough lock me up, an' if he sees me afore he has time to forget things, he'll paddle the stuffin' out of me!" At the ludicrous seriousness on Allen's face the woman smiled. His expression was like that of a small boy who has been caught stealing apples. Then her heart swelled with pity. She knew him--she knew his job of saving herself and others was not yet finished. Yet he thought so little of his own life that his chief worry was of what Jack would do or think. She watched him climb the trail that led to the shelf above the gulch and shook her head. "Just let me ketch folks sayin' anythin' against him an' I'll empty a pan of b'ilin' dishwater on 'em!" she said aloud.