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Laura Mallory came walking slowly up to the sheriff. Her face was ghastly after what she had witnessed. "Sheriff Long," she said in a voice strangely calm, "we heard Eagen" she shuddered, as she mentioned the name "ask Roger ask Mr. Rathburn last night to help with some job that would get them a lot of money. It may be that that Fred did plan such a thing.
"He robbed that bank because he thought I had betrayed his trust, Sheriff Long!" cried Laura, her eyes shining. "Are we going, Long?" cried Rathburn in an agony. The sheriff stepped to the door and called to some of his men who entered and bore the bodies of Doane and Eagen out of the sitting room.
You was watching the sport to-day?" "Couldn't help it," said Eagen. "It was me an' some of the boys they was after. You sort of helped us out by coming along an' attracting their attention. I pegged you when I saw you ride for it, an' I knew they wouldn't get you." "You mean you hid an' let me stand the gaff," said Rathburn scornfully. "That's your style, Eagen.
The realization that Laura had come to town and was in the company of Doane stunned Rathburn. More than anything else it had the effect of convincing him that Gomez had been right when he had hinted that Doane was successful in love. Hadn't she told him to take his gun when Eagen had been waiting for him?
After supper, Captain Selover rowed himself back to the ship. "Eagen," he had said, drawing me aside, "I'm going to leave you with them. It's better that one of us I think as owner I ought to be aboard " "Of course, sir," said I, "it's the only proper place for you." "I'm glad you think so," he rejoined, apparently relieved.
Price's interest quickened, but he made no sign. "They saw you?" he asked. "Couldn't help it," Rathburn grumbled. "Took after me. I had to drop one of 'em with a bullet in the shoulder to slow 'em up in the long cañon over on the other side." "Know any of the gang?" Price asked. "Met one. Threw down my gun on him. He told me Mike Eagen was runnin' the works." Price nodded.
"You needn't be lookin' around," Rathburn said coldly. "You're goin' to stay here till you answer my question, if all the sheriffs in Arizona come ridin' up meanwhile. Who's headin' your gang?" "That ain't professional," the fugitive grumbled. "You're just the same as one of us." Then, seeing the look that came into Rathburn's eyes, he said hastily: "Mike Eagen planned the lay."
In the heat of the threats and counterthreats which had been in progress, none of the occupants of the room had heard the newest arrival thunder up to the porch and leap from the saddle to the steps. Eagen was dumfounded by Rathburn's sudden appearance. He saw that the girl was standing now in a front corner of the room, with her hands crossed on her breast, a look of horror in her eyes.
Mallory hurried in with the lamp, followed by the girl. Doane was quailing before the new arrival. Both cried out, as they saw it was Eagen who had broken out so suddenly. Eagen towered above the shrinking Doane. "So you thought you'd double cross me, did you, eh?" came Eagen's harsh voice, and he slapped Doane in the face. Doane went red, then white.
You're plumb afraid to come out from under cover." He noted that there were three men with Eagen. They were quietly sitting their horses some little distance behind their leader. Eagen muttered something, and Rathburn could see his face working with rage. Then Eagen's coarse features underwent a change, and he grinned, his teeth flashing white under his small, black mustache.
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