"I want you to do something for me without asking why. Later I will tell
you."

Demorest looked at him fixedly. "What is it?" he said.

"The pack-mules will be here in a few moments. Don't wait to close up or
put away anything here, but clap that gold in the saddle-bags, and take
Barker with you and 'lite' out for Boomville AT ONCE. I will overtake
you later."

"Is there no time to discuss this?" asked Demorest.

"No," said Stacy bluntly. "Call me a crank, say I'm in a blue funk"--his
compressed lips and sharp black eyes did not lend themselves much to
that hypothesis--"only get out of this with that stuff, and take Barker
with you! I'm not responsible for myself while it's here."

Demorest knew Stacy to be combative, but practical. If he had not been
assured of his partner's last night slumbers he might have thought he
knew of the attempt. Or if he had discovered the turned-up ground in
the rear of the cabin his curiosity would have demanded an explanation.
Demorest paused only for a moment, and said, "Very well, I will go."

"Good! I'll rouse out Barker, but not a word to him--except that he must
go."

The rousing out of Barker consisted of Stacy's lifting that young
gentleman bodily from his bunk and standing him upright in the open
doorway. But Barker was accustomed to this Spartan process, and after a
moment's balancing with closed lids like an unwrapped mummy, he sat