t resorting to
deceit, or as the victim once more of crooks. Casey thought he would
prefer the accusation of lying deliberately to the Little Woman, though
it made him squirm to think of it. He wished she had not openly
taunted him with getting into trouble and needing her always to get him
out.

He would like to tell her that he was now working for the government.
The secrecy of his mission, the danger it involved, would impress even
her amused cynicism. But the very secrecy of his mission in itself
made it impossible for him to tell her anything about it. Casey would
not admit it, but it was a real disappointment to him that he could not
wear a star on his coat.

All that day and evening he was glum, a strange mood for Casey Ryan.
But if Mack Nolan noticed his silence, he gave no sign. Nolan himself
was wholly absorbed by the business in hand. The success of this plan
meant a good deal to him, and he told Casey so very frankly; which
lightened Casey's gloom perceptibly.

Casey was to drive to Los Angeles--even to San Diego if necessary--and
return within a week, unless Nolan's hopes were fulfilled and Casey was
held up and highjacked. If he were apprehended by officers who were
honestly discharging their duty, Casey was to do thus-and-so, and
presently be free to drive on with his load. If he were highjacked
(Casey gritted his teeth and said he hoped the highjacker would be
Smiling Lou), he was to permit himself to be robbed, worm himself as
far as possible into their confidence and return for further orders.

If Mack Nolan should chance to be absent from the cabin, then Casey was
to wait until he returned. And Nolan intimated that hereafter the
making of moonshine might be a part of Casey's duties. Then, without
warning, Mack Nolan struck at the heart of Casey's worry.

"I don't want to dictate to any man in family affairs, Ryan. But I've
got to speak of one other matter," he said diffidently. "I suppose
naturally you'll want to go home and let your wife know you're still
alive, anyway. But if you can manage to keep your present business a
secret for the time being, I think you'd better do it. You said you
were planning to be away on a trip for some time, I remember. If you
can just let it go that way, or say that you are prospecting over here,
I wish you would. Think you can manage that all right?"

"I'd rather manage a six-horse team of bronk mules," Casey admitted.
"But after the way the missus th