s for
lighting their way; but somehow Paul did not feel anxious to leave the
spot.

Paul remembered what Pim had said about having seen Chief Billings on
the road between Rattlesnake Mountain and the village of Tatum. Could it
be possible that Mr. Morris, the lawyer friend of Joe's father, had
influenced that official to start out in search of the papers? Had Mr.
Clausin found something on the floor of his feed store that told him his
wicked brother must have been there?

These were things which gave Paul much concern as he lay there resting,
and making good use of one of the blankets that had been found. He did
not mean to sleep at all, for the responsibility of the entire little
expedition rested on his shoulders, and he could not take chances.

Lying thus, Paul tried to go over all that had happened since the camp
lights went out at the sound of taps. Step by steps he advanced until
the thrilling moment came when he made that stumble, and immediately
heard the voice of Hank calling out to ask who it was.

He could see just as plainly as though he were living the whole thing
over again, how the man sat up, having thrown his blanket from him. Why,
it was the very blanket that Paul had over and under him now, and which
felt so comfortable.

Then, with the match showing Hank a strange boy so close at hand, he had
jumped to his feet. Paul could see him, as he lay there in the darkness;
even to the soiled white shirt he wore.

"Oh!"

If Hank had been minus his coat at the time he jumped to his feet, he
certainly had found no time to snatch it up when he ran away in such
haste at the coming of the others. Why, possibly this was the very coat
which Paul had doubled up, to serve him as a rude pillow.

Investigation revealed the fact that it _was_ a coat. And when he pawed
it over to find the inside pocket, he was thrilled to hear the
unmistakable rustle of papers somewhere! Yes, wonderful as it might
seem, there was a good-sized bunch of folded documents in the pocket.
Could these be the lost papers that had been the cause of so much
distress to Mr. Clausin?

Even while Paul was thinking whether or not he should wait until morning
to mention his discovery to the anxious Joe, because he did not wish to
arouse any false hopes, he thought he heard a slight sound near by.

What if Hank were returning to search for his coat, remembering how he
had left it so carelessly when he fled, and what things of value it
held? P