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Updated: June 7, 2025
"I don't like the name, but it was wished on me, an' I can't seem to shake it off. If I wasn't the man you think I am you wouldn't be in such a tight fix, Sautee." Rathburn's words conveyed a subtle menace which was not lost on the mine manager. Sautee cringed and rubbed his hands in his nervous tension. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "Listen!" exclaimed Rathburn.
"Maybe I'm just what I told Sautee a fool." He caught sight of a man and a boy above him. Another instant and they were lost to view. Rathburn suddenly put the spurs to his horse, and the dun surged up the steep trail. As he rode, Rathburn took his rawhide lariat from its place on the saddle.
Couldn't have drawed if I wanted to. They'd have shot me out of the saddle in a wink. All I could do was hand over the package an' beat it." "And they said you were a gunman," said Sautee in derision. "How do I know anybody stopped you and robbed you? Maybe you've come back here with that story to cover up the theft of the money.
When they gained the shelter of the timber they gradually circled around until they struck a trail which led up above the mine. They started up this, Sautee leading the way on foot with Rathburn following on his horse and keeping his gun trained on the mines manager's back. "Don't worry," Rathburn crooned. "I won't shoot you in the back, Sautee. That wouldn't be accordin' to my ethics.
Maybe it would be best for my own protection that you scribbled something on a piece of paper to show what our arrangement is." Sautee scowled again, hesitated, then smiled.
Mannix let you go up there yesterday because he felt sure he could get you when he wanted you again, and he figured you'd make some break that would give him a clew to your pals, if you had any. You went to jail because you knew he didn't have anything on you." Sautee grinned in triumph. "How do you know I won't beat it with the money?" asked Rathburn. "I don't," said Sautee quickly.
Rathburn, looking through the front window, saw a door open wide and made out the form of Sautee as the mines manager came forward to the front door. "Who is it?" Sautee called cautiously. "Rathburn." After a moment a key turned in the lock and the door opened part way. Rathburn pushed his way in. "Why didn't you go?" asked Sautee in excited tones.
"Your boy's clothes fooled them, if they saw you at all. They probably thought I was carrying Sautee down the trail, for they found Sautee up there in the powder house with me." The girl sobbed again. Her eyes were red with weeping. "Listen, ma'am," said Rathburn gently. "I picked these up from the road the day the truck driver was held up." He brought out two hairpins from his coat pocket.
They entered a restaurant just below the hotel, and Sautee led the way to a booth where they were assured comparative privacy. "Ham an' eggs," said Rathburn shortly when the waiter entered. Sautee smiled again. He was covertly inspecting the man across the table from him and evidently what he saw caused him to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.
Peering in one of the windows he saw that the room was an office. Sautee was standing before a desk, talking to another man. Rathburn quickly surmised that this man had accompanied Sautee from the town. Even as he looked, Sautee finished his speech by striking a palm with his fist, and his companion strode toward the door.
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