esult was a theft of a couple of thousand dollars, no trace left
behind, and a growing feeling of insecurity throughout the county. It
was for this crime that Norton meant and promised to make an arrest.

Exactly seven days from the day of his promise Norton rode into San
Juan and asked for Tom Cutter. Struve, meeting him at the hotel door,
looked at him sharply.

"Made that arrest yet, Norton?" he demanded. Norton smiled.

"No, I haven't," he admitted coolly. "But I've got a few minutes
before my week's up, haven't I? Fix me up with something to eat and
I'll have a talk with you and Tom while I attend to the inner man."

But over his meal, while Cutter and Struve watched him impatiently, he
did little talking other than to ask carelessly where del Rio was.

"Damn it, man," cried Struve irritably. "You've hinted at him before
now. If he's a crook, why don't you go grab him? He's in his room."

Norton swung about upon Struve, his eyes suddenly filled with fire.

"Look here, Struve," he retorted, "I've had about a bellyful of
badgering. I'm running my job and it will be just as well for you to
keep your hands off. As for why I don't make an arrest . . . Come on,
Tom. You, too, Julius," his smile coming back. "I'm going to get del
Rio."

"I don't believe . . ." began Struve.

"Seeing is believing," returned Norton lightly. "Come on."

Followed by the two men, Norton went direct to del Rio's room, at the
front of the house, just across the hall from Virginia's office. At
del Rio's quick "_Entra_," he threw open the door and went in. Del
Rio, seated smoking a cigar, looked up with curious eyes which did not
miss the two men following the sheriff.

"You are under arrest for the bank robbery at Packard Springs," said
Norton crisply.

"_Que quiere usted decir_?" demanded the Mexican, to whom the English
words were meaningless.

Norton threw back his vest, showing his star. And while he kept his
eye upon del Rio he said quietly to Cutter:

"Look through his trunk and bags."

Del Rio, understanding quickly enough, sat smoking swiftly, his eyes
narrowing as they clung steadily to Norton's. Cutter, a rising hope in
his breast that at last his superior had made good, went to the trunk
in the corner. Del Rio shrugged and remained silent.

Cutter began tumbling out upon the floor an assortment of clothing,
evincing little respect for the Mexican's finery. Suddenly, when his
hands had gone to the