is word."

"He said nothing else; there were no papers on him--nothing of value?"

Neither man had permitted his eyes to waver from the other's since Harlan
had advanced; and they now stood, with only the few feet of space between
them, looking steadily at each other.

Harlan saw in Haydon's eyes a furtive, stealthy gleam as of cupidity
glossed over with a pretense of frank curiosity. He sensed greed in
Haydon's gaze, and knowledge of a mysterious quality.

Haydon knew something about Lane Morgan's errand to Pardo; he knew why
the man had started for Pardo, and what had been on his person at the
time of his death.

Harlan was convinced of that; and the light in his eyes as he looked into
Haydon's reflected the distrust and the contempt he had for the man.

"What do you think Morgan had in his clothes?" he questioned suddenly.

A slow flush of color stole into Haydon's cheeks, then receded, leaving
him a trifle pale. He laughed, with a pretense of mockery.

"You ought to know," he said, a snarl in his voice. "You must have
searched him."

Harlan grinned with feline mirthlessness. And he stepped back a little,
knowledge and satisfaction in his eyes.

For he had "looked Haydon over," following Morgan's instructions. He had
purposely permitted Haydon to question him, expecting that during the
exchange of talk the man would say something that would corroborate the
opinion that Harlan had instantly formed, that Haydon was not to be
trusted.

And Haydon's snarl; the cupidity in his eyes, and his ill-veiled
eagerness had convinced Harlan.

Harlan did not resent Haydon's manner; he was too pleased over his
discovery that Haydon possessed traits of character that unfitted him for
an alliance with Barbara. And it would be his business to bring those
traits out, so that Barbara could see them unmistakably.

He laughed lowly, dropping his gaze to Haydon's belt; to his right hand,
which hung limply near his pistol holster; and to the woolen shirt, with
the silk handkerchief at the throat sagging picturesquely.

His gaze roved over Haydon--insolently, contemptuously; his lips
twitching with the grim humor that had seized him. And Haydon stood, not
moving a muscle, undergoing the scrutiny with rigid body, with eyes that
had become wide with a queer sensation of dread wonder that was stealing
over him; and with a pallor that was slowly becoming ghastly.

For he had no doubt that at last he had unwittingly aroused the de