think I was kiddin’ you!”

He smiled amiably while the justice glared angrily.

“You’re drunk!” flared Brown. “The best thing you can do is get out of here––quick.”

Rathburn looked pained. “First you ask me to state my business an’ now you tell me to get out,” he complained. “You might as well know that I never touch likker,” he added convincingly.

Brown was studying him intently with a puzzled look on his face. “Well,” he said finally, with a show of irritation, “what do you want?”

“I want you to tell me the why an’ the wherefores of this document,” said Rathburn sternly as he drew a folded piece of paper from a pocket and spread it out on the table before the astonished gaze of the justice.

“That’s one of a number I saw tacked on trees on the east trail out of here,” continued Rathburn, frowning. “What’s it all about, Brown?”

The pen in the hand of the justice suddenly began to waver as the hand trembled. Then Brown dropped it, squared away his chair, and looked grimly at his nocturnal visitor. For some moments his gaze was concentrated on Rathburn’s face. Then he slowly read the poster offering a reward of five hundred dollars for The Coyote. He wet his lips with his tongue.

“So I was right!” he exclaimed. “You were headed in this direction. I’m assuming that you’re The Coyote!”

“And you’re assuming what’s the bare, untarnished truth,” said Rathburn. “I’m The Coyote you’ve offered five hundred for, an’ who’ll bring another five hundred in several counties in Arizona, not to 27 mention five thousand that the State of Arizona has tossed into the pot. I suppose I’m worth at least ten thousand as I stand here.”

“That would be cheap for a man of your reputation!” said the justice bravely. “We don’t want you across the line in California, Coyote. We won’t put up with your depredations, and if you murder one of our citizens you’ll hang!”

Rathburn’s chilling laugh hung upon the justice’s words. “You’re side-stepping the point,” he said suddenly in crisp tones that were like the crack of a whiplash. “You’re anticipating events, Jud. That’s my complaint––that’s my business here with you.” He brought his right palm down upon the table smartly.

“An’ now that I’m here, Jud, you’re sure goin’ to listen!”

“Don’t threaten me!” cried the justice. “There are a hundred men within call and they’d make short work of you if they got their hands on you. Darn your ornery hide, I’m holding the winning cards in this game!” he concluded excitedly.

Rathburn was smiling at him; and it was not his natural smile. It gave the justice pause as he looked up into those narrowed gray eyes, shot with a steel-blue light. Rathburn’s right hand and wrist moved with incredible swiftness, and Brown found himself staring into the black bore of a six-gun. Still he saw the eyes above the weapon. His face blanched.

“There are six winning cards in my right hand,” Rathburn said slowly. “You can start shoutin’ for those hundred men you mentioned just as soon as you want. Brown, it’s you an’ your kind that’s made me desperate––dangerous, like you said in that printed notice. I won’t fool with you or any other man on earth!”