heriff stated. "If we don't
find him there, we'll set the telephones going to warn all the ranches
and towns around to be on the lookout and either to stop or report him
if he shows up. He hasn't start enough to get away now."

They hastened on along the line of buildings until they reached a side
street. But when they had proceeded a short way, Weir stopped.

"I'm not satisfied about the office," said he. "Suppose you go on to
his house and I'll return for a look inside from the front. If you
fail to find him join me at Martinez' office, where no one is likely
to be around and we can then lay further plans."

"That suits," Madden responded, and set off alone.

Weir's alert brain had been turning over the possibilities of
Sorenson's course. Rather by pursuing what would be the man's line of
reasoning than by depending on chance, he had come to the quick
decision to turn back once again to the office. Sorenson would so act
as would best serve his immediate escape and that of the future.

Would he expect the sheriff and the engineer to look for him to flee
by the speediest means, an automobile, and to the natural avenue of
escape, the railroad? Yes. Therefore on that expectation he would
adopt another way to throw off pursuit. And perilous as a delay would
be in getting away from San Mateo, yet he must risk the few minutes
necessary to get money. For to fly with pockets empty meant eventual,
certain capture. Money a fugitive from justice must possess above
everything in order to possess wings; and no one would know that
better than Sorenson.

Though Madden and he had seen no light in the office building, the
cattleman nevertheless might have been within. If he had been in the
vault, he could safely have lighted a candle without their perceiving
its beams; and though the safe was modern it probably had no time
lock. Sorenson could unlock it with a few twirls of the combination,
stuff his pockets with currency and negotiable paper to the amount of
thousands and then slip away.

Fortunately the moonlight was to Weir's advantage. He quickened his
steps, passed round the corner into the main street and moved towards
the building. For him the crowd at the court house at that moment had
no interest; one person, and one person alone, commanded his
thoughts.

How correct had been his logic--logic not unmixed with intuition,
perhaps--appeared when he was yet some fifty yards away from the door
he sought. A tall bulky figu