six-shooter and stalked resolutely off up the street.

The office of the Company was on the ground floor of the hotel--the
corner room, with a rented office beyond--and as Rimrock came towards
it he saw a small sign, jutting out from the farther door:

MARY ROGET FORTUNE
TYPEWRITING.

He glanced at it absently, for strange emotions came over him as he
peered in through that plateglass window. It had been his office, this
same expensive room; and he had been robbed of it, under cover of the
law. He shaded his eyes from the glare of the street and looked in at
the mahogany desk. It was vacant--the whole place was vacant--and
silently he tried the door. That was locked. McBain had seen him and
slipped away till he should get out of town.

"The sneaking cur!" muttered Rimrock in a fury and a passing woman drew
away and half-screamed. He ignored her, pondering darkly, and then to
his ears there came a familiar voice. He listened, intently, and
raised his head; then tiptoed along the wall. That voice, and he knew
it, belonged to Andrew McBain, the man that stole mines for a living.
He paused at the door where Mary Fortune had her sign, then suddenly
forced his way in.

Without thinking, impulsively, he had moved towards that voice as a man
follows some irresistible call. He opened the door and stood blinking
in the doorway, his hand on the pistol at his side. Then he blinked
again, for in the gloom of the back office there was nothing but a desk
and a girl. She wore a harness over her head, like a telephone
operator, and rose up to meet him tremulously.

"Is there anything you wish?" she asked him quietly and Rimrock fumbled
and took off his hat.

"Yes--I was looking for a man," he said at last. "I thought I heard
him--just now."

He came down towards her, still looking about him, and there was a stir
from behind the desk.

"No, I think you're mistaken," she answered bravely, but he could see
the telltale fear in her eyes.

"You know who I mean!" he broke out roughly, "and I guess you know why
I've come!"

"No, I don't," she answered, "but--but this is my office and I hope you
won't make any trouble."

The words came with a rush, once she found her courage, but the appeal
was lost upon Rimrock.

"He's here, then!" he said. "Well, you tell him to come out. I'd like
to talk with him on business--alone!"

He took a step forward and then suddenly from behind the desk a shadow
rose up and