," snapped out Neal. "It's
principle more than reward money that invites me, Coyote. Hand over
your gun belt an' be careful how you unbuckle it."

"Sheriff, it would be against my code of ethics to hand over my gun.
It can't be done, sheriff; you'll have to come and get it."

Neal hesitated, notwithstanding the fact that he had Rathburn covered
and that several other guns were covering him. Then he stepped
forward, never taking his eyes from Rathburn's, and secured the
other's weapon.

"That's better, sheriff," said Rathburn with a queer smile. "You can
see how I have my pride an' little superstitions. No man has ever took
a gun from me but what I've got it back! Thanks, sheriff."

Lamy had come out of the cellar. Several of the men seemed to
recognize him, but kept their silence with dubious looks in their
eyes.

"My guide, sheriff," said Rathburn, pointing gayly at Lamy. "He was
very kind. He showed me around the country--me not being very well
acquainted around here. I had to take his gun away from him an' sort
of encourage him along with my own, but he did very nicely."

"Just what I thought, Neal," said Brown. "This fellow took after him
an' he captured him and made him lead him. Isn't that so?" he asked of
Lamy.

"Just a minute, Jud," Rathburn interrupted with a frown. "I can't let
the importance of this momentous occasion be transferred to a
subordinate. You must ask your questions of me, as I am the central
figure in this affair."

The cry of a girl startled them. She came running from the kitchen
where she had fled when the sheriff announced his intention to shoot
through the floor.

"Ed!" she cried, running to Lamy and throwing her arms about him.
"Oh--Ed!"

"Who is he, ma'am?" asked the sheriff. "Your husband?"

"He's my brother--Ed Lamy."

"I can recommend him if you need a guide who knows the country,
sheriff," said Rathburn genially. "I guess he had an idea of making
trouble for me at first, but I had the drop on him an' he soon saw
reason. I had to knock him down last night when he got fresh, but he
did very well. Of course I had an advantage on my side." He nodded
toward his gun which the official still held in his hand.

"Did he make you guide him?" Neal asked Lamy, noting his empty
holster.

Rathburn turned so that he could look at his former captive.

Lamy nodded. "Yes," he replied. "I didn't know what minute I was goin'
to get shot in the back."

Rathburn's eyes glowed with an