h, to see if any one were
creeping upon him from under or around the bed. Hearing nothing but a
sob from the little girl, he at last arose to his feet, his eyes and his
weapons on the alert, and stepped back against the wall. Then he sidled
along until, having passed the boarded-up window and two corners, his
knees struck the cot.

"Don't be afraid," he said, squatting instantly to one side to dodge any
bullet or knife that might be guided by his voice. After another short
wait he added, "I think he's gone. Light the lamp."

While the match flickered in the little girl's hand, the eldest brother
again moved eyes and pistols in a half-circle. But as the lamp was
lifted and its light dispelled the darkness, he saw that they were
alone. To remove every doubt, he looked under the bed and the cot and
behind the headboard. When his search was completed he sat down on the
rawhide-bottomed chair, trembling, enraged, and mystified.

"Am I crazy?" he asked in a low voice. "I was sure there was a man in
here. But if there was, how'd he get out?"

"I heard some one," whispered the little girl. She was very pale, and
kept close beside him for protection.

The eldest brother thought a moment. Then he jumped up and strode over
to the bed. "Bring the lamp," he said.

Together they examined the covers. Only the top one had been turned
down. Now it lay as the eldest brother had tossed it when he rolled out
upon the floor. The other blankets were undisturbed. He ran his fingers
over them carefully.

Suddenly he uttered a cry and began to fold them back swiftly, finding
on each the trace he sought. When the mattress was at last laid bare, he
pointed to a narrow slit that did not penetrate to the under side.

"It was a knife," said the little girl, and the lamp almost fell from
her grasp.

The eldest brother nodded, dragged the bed away from the door, and flung
it wide. The passage was dark and still, apparently empty. "Hello!" he
shouted at the top of his lungs. "Hello, there!"

As the sound of his voice died away, a distant door creaked and the
hotel man came out in his underclothes, a candle in his hand. "What's
the matter?" he called crossly, coming toward them. "You'll wake the
whole house." He looked around, a trifle dismayed, the eldest brother
thought, to see other doors being opened and heads thrust out.

"That's just what I intend to do," cried the eldest brother. "I want to
let every man in the hotel know that you ke