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Updated: June 7, 2025
Mannix, the deputy, looked out. "Let me in," said Sautee briefly. "There's been another robbery." Mannix swung the door wide and stepped aside. He wore an ulster over his night clothes, and his bare feet were thrust into slippers. He scowled at the mines manager as he shut the door. "More of the company's money gone?" he asked with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. Sautee nodded.
I guess I made a mistake in ever thinking of trusting a man of your caliber." "I was afraid of that," said Rathburn. "I was afraid if anything like this was to happen you might think I was lying and was taking the money myself. But I fooled 'em, Mr. Sautee," he finished in triumph. "What's that?" Sautee asked sharply.
From below came the echoes of shouts and other sounds which conveyed the intelligence that a large body of men was on the move up to the mine and the mountain slope above. "They're after me," said Rathburn bitterly. "They think I stole the pay-rolls. They can't get me, Sautee not alive. An' if they get me the other way I'm goin' to see to it somehow that I don't get blamed for these jobs up here.
Then he stepped back to the doorway. "Join your men, Mannix," he said quietly. Mannix thrust the money into a pocket and stood for several seconds looking directly into Rathburn's eyes. A curious expression was on the deputy's face, partly wonder, partly admiration, partly doubt. Then he turned abruptly upon his heel and walked back to the gaping men. Sautee struggled to his feet.
I could go with a guard, but to tell you the truth, Rathburn, it's got to a point where I can't trust a soul." "Why not Mannix?" asked Rathburn sharply. Sautee shook his head; his beady, black eyes glowed, and he stroked his chin. "There's another sorrowful point," he explained. "I tell you we're up against it here, Rathburn.
"Why not pay off down here in town?" Sautee sighed with an air of resignation. "That's been argued several times," he complained. "The men demand their pay in cash. They want it at the mine, for more than half of them have refused to come down here for it.
"I fooled 'em, an' to all appearances I fooled myself, although maybe I did take a peep into that package when I changed it in my room, Mr. Sautee." The mines manager shifted in his chair; but he stared defiantly at Rathburn. "You'd have a hard time proving anything," he said grimly. "That's the trouble," Rathburn admitted. "I'd sort of have to depend on you.
He lifted a piece of the carpet, opened a small trapdoor, reached inside, and brought out a bundle of bank notes. Rathburn took the money from him. Sautee still was kneeling as he heard Rathburn walk lightly to the front door and insert the key in the lock. He tried to cry out, but the effort resulted only in a croak in his throat. He heard the door close softly.
"Looks like there was a posse or two out this morning," said Rathburn in a forbidding voice. "I reckon I ain't such a fool as not to know who they're lookin' for, Sautee. Now maybe you can figure out why I ain't as scared of that powder house as you are." "I can stop them!" cried Sautee in a shaking voice. "Sure," Rathburn agreed. "You can say you lied about me takin' the money "
Sautee did not cry out, although he had recovered a considerable measure of his composure. He listened intently and finally grunted with satisfaction. "Up the road," he muttered. "That means he is making for the pass over the mountains." He walked hurriedly through his office into the living room. There he stood for a spell beside the table on which burned the lamp.
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