n the two sheriffs rose and looked at
their revolvers.

"Now for the tough one." Bardwell made the remark, and Mason smiled
grimly. Fairchild rose and went to them.

"May I go along?"

"Yes, but not the girl. Not this time."

Anita did not demur. She moved to the big rocker beside the old base
burner and curled up in it. Fairchild walked to her side.

"You won't run away," he begged.

"I? Why?"

"Oh--I don't know. It--it just seems too good to be true!"

She laughed and pulled her cap from her head, allowing her wavy, brown
hair to fall about her shoulders, and over her face. Through it she
smiled up at him, and there was something in that smile which made
Fairchild's heart beat faster than ever.

"I 'll be right here," she answered, and with that assurance, he
followed the other two men out into the night.

Far down the street, where the rather bleak outlines of the hotel
showed bleaker than ever in the frigid night, a light was gleaming in a
second-story window. Mason turned to his fellow sheriff.

"He usually stays there. That must be him--waiting for the kid."

"Then we 'd better hurry--before somebody springs the news."

The three entered, to pass the drowsy night clerk, examine the register
and to find that their conjecture had been correct. Tiptoeing, they
went to the door and knocked. A high-pitched voice came from within.

"That you, Maurice?"

Fairchild answered in the best imitation he could give.

"Yes. I 've got Anita with me."

Steps, then the door opened. For just a second, Squint Rodaine stared
at them in ghastly, sickly fashion. Then he moved back into the room,
still facing them.

"What's the idea of this?" came his forced query. Fairchild stepped
forward.

"Simply to tell you that everything 's blown up as far as you 're
concerned, Mr. Rodaine."

"You needn't be so dramatic about it. You act like I 'd committed a
murder! What 've I done that you should--?"

"Just a minute. I would n't try to act innocent. For one thing, I
happened to be in the same house with you one night when you showed
Crazy Laura, your wife, how to make people immortal. And we 'll
probably learn a few more things about your character when we 've
gotten back there and interviewed--"

He stopped his accusations to leap forward, clutching wildly. But in
vain. With a lunge, Squint Rodaine had turned, then, springing high
from the floor, had seemed to double in the air as he crashed t