"As usual," he answered with a vague laugh. "Laura, I didn't come here to bother you with my troubles; I come here just to see _you_."

The girl colored. "I know, Roger. We've known each other a long time--since we were children. You wouldn't like it for me not to show any concern over your troubles, would you?"

"I wish we could talk about something else," said Rathburn. "I can't stay long."

Laura Mallory looked worried. "May I ask where you plan to go, Roger?"

"I'm not sure. I only know I wanted to come back, an' I came. I hadn't any fixed plans, an' I wasn't expecting the reception I got." His face clouded. Then he looked straight into the girl's eyes. "I hit this country this morning," he said steadily. "The first folks I saw was some men ridin' in my direction up between the lava hills and the range. Then things began to happen."

She nodded brightly. "I believe you," she said simply.

Rathburn smiled. "You aways did that, Laura, an' I ain't never been much of a hand at lying."

"Roger," she said quickly, "if they all knew you as well as I think I know you----"

"They wouldn't believe," he interrupted. "They call me The Coyote, an' they'll have me live up to the name whether I want to or not," he added bitterly.

"But, Roger, you're forgetting what I said about the trails and the compa.s.s."

"No, Laura, I'm not, but there's another force besides the big lodestone that's affectin' that compa.s.s."

"Roger, you're thinking of an enemy!"

He did not answer her. His face appeared grim, almost haggard, in the yellow rays of the lamplight.

"Roger, you once promised me anything I might ask," she said softly.

"An' all you have to do is ask," he answered, taking a step toward her.

"I'm going to ask you for something, Roger," she said without looking at him. "Maybe you'll think it's--it's too much that I ask." She glanced up at him doubtfully.

"What is it, Laura?" he insisted.

"I want your gun, Roger," she whispered.

He straightened and stared at her in startled wonder. "But, Laura--a man in my position--why--why--where would I be at?"

"Maybe if you gave it to me it would help you find a way out, Roger,"

she pleaded earnestly.

Rathburn looked into her eyes and thrilled. Then without a word he unbuckled his cartridge belt which held his holstered gun, untied the strap about his thigh and laid the belt with the weapon upon the table.

"Roger!" said the girl. The sob again was in her voice. She reached out and placed a hand upon his arm.

An elderly man appeared in the doorway from the kitchen.

"Father, this is Roger," said the girl hurriedly. "He's back."

"What's that? Roger, eh? You mean Rathburn is here?"

The old man peered at the visitor from the doorway, his lean face twitching. He stroked his gray beard in indecision. His blue eyes looked long at Rathburn, then at the girl, and lastly at the gun and belt on the table.

"Well, h.e.l.lo, Rathburn," he said finally, advancing into the room. He held out a hand which Rathburn grasped.

"Did you eat yet?" asked Mallory.

"In the hills with Joe Price," replied Rathburn. "But I'm just as much obliged."

"Yes, of course," Mallory muttered. "With Joe, eh? He ain't been down in months. How is he?"

"Looks good as a gold mine an' thinks he's found one," said Rathburn, looking at the girl's father curiously.

"That's what keeps him up," Mallory a.s.serted loudly. "He'll never get old as long as he thinks he's got a mine corralled. He ought to try stock raisin' for a while. You look older, Rathburn--more filled out.

Are you still cutting 'em high, wide, an' handsome?"

Rathburn's face clouded.

"Roger's starting new, dad," the girl interposed.

Mallory stared keenly at the younger man. He started to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of horses outside the house.

Rathburn whirled toward the door, took a step, and stopped in his tracks. The girl's hands flew to the sides of her face, and her eyes widened with apprehension.

"I'll go see who it is," said Mallory with a quick look at Rathburn.

He hastened out into the kitchen, and a moment later they heard the kitchen door open. There was a murmur of voices. The girl stared at Rathburn breathlessly, while he tapped with his slim fingers upon the top of the table.

Then Mallory came in. "Somebody to see you," he said to Rathburn.

Rathburn looked once at the white-faced girl and followed her father out into the kitchen. She heard them speak in an undertone, and then Rathburn came back into the room.

"I ain't much elated over my visitor," he said slowly. "I wish you hadn't asked me what you did until--well, until this caller had come an' gone."

She looked straight into his eyes in an agony of dread.

"Who is it, Roger?" she asked, wetting her lips.

"Mike Eagen is out there," he answered calmly.

She drew a quick breath, while he waited. Then he turned on his heel and started for the kitchen door.

"Roger!" she called.

He swung about and eyed her questioningly. She pointed at the heavy belt and gun on the table.

"Take it," she whispered.

He buckled on the belt and tied down the end of the holster so it could not slip if he should draw the weapon within it. Then he made his way into the kitchen and out of the rear door. Laura Mallory sank into a chair, sobbing.