this valley. We traced 'em here, and we got sight of 'em
yesterday. We'll have 'em before night!"

"I hope so," said Brown grimly.

"I've given orders to shoot to kill and not to miss," thundered the
sheriff. "But I guess the rewards offered for him would kind of steady
the aim of the man that got a crack at him."

Rathburn's face went white, and his eyes shot fire as he listened to
the sheriff's cruel laugh in which the others in the room above now
joined.

Lamy signaled that he wished to whisper in his ear, and Rathburn bent
his head, although he kept the gun handy.

"I'm not goin' to risk shootin' anybody if we should be found or
cornered," Lamy whispered. "I thought you ought to know----"

"If we're cornered you leave it to me," Rathburn came back. "I have
reasons for everything I'm doing. An' don't forget that I'd rather be
grabbed for this simple trick of yours in Dry Lake than for one or
two jobs over in Arizona. If things go wrong keep your mouth
shut--don't talk! If you start talking any time I'll try to kill
you!"

Lamy drew back from the ferocity in Rathburn's tone and manner. That
menacing message was again in Rathburn's eyes.

"Who's that boy out there?" the sheriff called sharply.

"Go in and say how-do-you-do," came the girl's voice from the kitchen.
"It's my brother, Frankie."

"Come here, Frankie," said the sheriff.

The pair below heard light footsteps on the floor above.

"That's a fine crop of freckles you've got," said the sheriff.

Rathburn saw Lamy put a hand to his face and make a grimace.

"Listen, Frankie, did you see anybody around here this morning?" asked
the sheriff.

"Who--who you looking for?" asked the boy.

Rathburn started; his body suddenly tensed.

"I'm looking for an outlaw they call The Coyote," returned the
sheriff. "Ever hear of him?"

"Y-e-s. Ed brought home a notice about a reward for him."

"That's the man we're after. Rides a dun-colored horse; tall,
light-complexioned. Seen anybody like that around here?"

"He was here day before yesterday," said the boy truthfully. "Sis gave
him something to eat, an' he went on into town. He didn't seem like
such a bad man to me. Told me never to lie."

"He was here? Ate here?" The sheriff's voice was excited.

Rathburn saw Lamy's eyes widen.

"Frankie," the sheriff said soberly, "that Coyote went into town an'
robbed a place. He's a bad, dangerous man no matter how he looks or
what he says. Have you seen anyb