tibly, whirling as if to face an enemy. When he saw that
it was Nolan he apparently lost his desire to enter the cabin. Instead
he came close to Nolan and spoke in a hoarse whisper.

"We better run 'er under the shed, Mr. Nolan, and drain the darned
radiator. I dunno am I follered or not, but I was awhile back. But the
man that catches Casey Ryan when he's on the trail an' travelin, has
yet t' be born. An' you can ask anybody if that ain't so."

Mack Nolan's eyes narrowed. "And who followed you then?" he asked
quietly. "Did you bring any hootch?"

"Did yuh send Casey Ryan after hootch, or was it mebby spuds er
somethin'?" Casey retorted with heavy dignity. "Will yuh pack it in,
Mr. Nolan, whilst I back the car in the shed, or shall I bring it when
I come? It ain't so much," he added drily, "but it cost the trouble
of a trainload."

"I'll take it in," said Nolan. "If any one does come we want no
evidence in reach."

Casey turned to the car, clawed at his camp outfit and lifted out a
demijohn which he grimly handed to Nolan. "Fer many a mile it rode on
the seat with me so I could drink 'er down if they got me cornered," he
grinned. "One good swaller is about the size of it, Mr. Nolan."

Nolan grinned in sympathy and turned into the cabin, bearing the
three-gallon, wicker-covered glass bottle in his arms. Presently he
returned to the doorway and stood there listening down the gulch until
Casey came up, walking from the shed.

"'Tis a good thing yuh left this other car standin' here cold an'
peaceful, Mr. Nolan," Casey, observed, after he also had stood for a
minute listening. "If they're follerin' they'll be here darn' soon. If
they ain't I've ditched 'em. Let's git t' bed an' I'll tell yuh my
tale uh woe."

Without a word Nolan led the way into the cabin. In the dark they
undressed and got into the bed which was luckily wide enough for two.

"Had your supper?" Nolan asked belatedly when they were settled.

"I did not," Casey grunted. "I will say, Mr. Nolan, there's few times
in my life when you'd see Casey Ryan missin' 'is supper whilst layin'
tracks away from a fight. But if it was light enough you could gaze
upon 'im now. And I must hand it t' the Gallopin' Gussie yuh give me
the loan of fer the trip. She brung me home ahead of the sheriff--and
you can ask anybody if Casey Ryan himself can't be proud uh that!"

"The sheriff?" Nolan's voice was puzzled. He seemed to be considering
somethin