. "I believe you," she said simply.

Rathburn smiled. "You aways did that, Laura, an' I ain't never been
much of a hand at lying."

"Roger," she said quickly, "if they all knew you as well as I think I
know you----"

"They wouldn't believe," he interrupted. "They call me The Coyote,
an' they'll have me live up to the name whether I want to or not," he
added bitterly.

"But, Roger, you're forgetting what I said about the trails and the
compass."

"No, Laura, I'm not, but there's another force besides the big
lodestone that's affectin' that compass."

"Roger, you're thinking of an enemy!"

He did not answer her. His face appeared grim, almost haggard, in the
yellow rays of the lamplight.

"Roger, you once promised me anything I might ask," she said softly.

"An' all you have to do is ask," he answered, taking a step toward
her.

"I'm going to ask you for something, Roger," she said without looking
at him. "Maybe you'll think it's--it's too much that I ask." She
glanced up at him doubtfully.

"What is it, Laura?" he insisted.

"I want your gun, Roger," she whispered.

He straightened and stared at her in startled wonder. "But, Laura--a
man in my position--why--why--where would I be at?"

"Maybe if you gave it to me it would help you find a way out, Roger,"
she pleaded earnestly.

Rathburn looked into her eyes and thrilled. Then without a word he
unbuckled his cartridge belt which held his holstered gun, untied the
strap about his thigh and laid the belt with the weapon upon the
table.

"Roger!" said the girl. The sob again was in her voice. She reached
out and placed a hand upon his arm.

An elderly man appeared in the doorway from the kitchen.

"Father, this is Roger," said the girl hurriedly. "He's back."

"What's that? Roger, eh? You mean Rathburn is here?"

The old man peered at the visitor from the doorway, his lean face
twitching. He stroked his gray beard in indecision. His blue eyes
looked long at Rathburn, then at the girl, and lastly at the gun and
belt on the table.

"Well, hello, Rathburn," he said finally, advancing into the room. He
held out a hand which Rathburn grasped.

"Did you eat yet?" asked Mallory.

"In the hills with Joe Price," replied Rathburn. "But I'm just as much
obliged."

"Yes, of course," Mallory muttered. "With Joe, eh? He ain't been down
in months. How is he?"

"Looks good as a gold mine an' thinks he's found one," said Rathburn,
looking at the girl's fat