e banker
what had happened and what he feared was set to happen. Engle listened
gravely.

"Galloway is making his getaway to-night," Norton said by way of
conclusion. "For every rifle he has a man. He has no reason to like
you and he knows that you carry more money in gold and bank-notes than
any other man in the country. The fact that Kid Rickard pulled the
game the way he did this afternoon, shooting down Roberts when there
was no need of bloodshed, ought to be enough to show us that they are
not going to draw the line anywhere this side of old Mexico."

"What are you planning?" asked Engle.

"I've sent for Brocky and all the men he can bring. They'll all come
heeled and ready for trouble, every one sworn in as a sheriff's deputy.
I'll get every dependable man in San Juan into the saddle with a rifle
inside half an hour. Before that we'll have further word; or, if not,
we ride toward Mt. Temple. I'm taking the gamble so far that that's
their rendezvous; that the Kid and his crowd will show up there."

It was unnecessary for him to continue. Engle nodded and went for his
rifle. Norton, turning toward Mrs. Engle and Virginia, was shocked by
the look he saw in the eyes of the banker's wife.

"Florrie!" gasped Mrs. Engle, her hands gripped in front of her, her
face paling. "I thought she was in her room; when I missed her five
minutes ago I thought that she had slipped out and run up to the hotel
to see Virginia. Virginia hasn't seen her."

Norton smiled and patted the two clasped hands.

"Oh, Florrie'll be all right, Mrs. Engle," he comforted her. "We
mustn't get nervous and begin to imagine things, must we?"

But no lessening of that look of fear came into the mother's eyes.
Galloway was striking, Florrie was not to be accounted for. Though she
turned quickly and went again through the house, the patio, and the
rear gardens, she was apprehensively certain that she would not find
Florence. Virginia came hurriedly to Norton, whispering:

"I'm afraid for her, Rod. I'm afraid! I have seen her and Jim
Galloway together, I have known all along that he had an influence over
her which he might exert if he wanted to. And, just before Jim
Galloway went to Mexico, Elmer saw them walk down the street together,
stop and talk together under the trees. . . . Oh, I'm afraid for her,
Rod!"

Engle's face was as white as chalk when a little later he came back
into the room with his wife; his two hands were li