The daily tribune., 1909-02-16
WHERE
THE LINES
MEET
By FRANK K. FINNEGAN
tcopyrlght. BY shortstory Pub. Coz

CONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAY
here! We expected to find Bill Cor
don. You waitin' for him, too?n
There's Bill. in the corner" RS
piled Sheriff M'Kinney, and the two
strangers turned in the direction indi-
Gated. Gordon was rocking himself
lightly to and fro on the nail keg.
still enjoying his smoke and with the
same inscrutable smile on his fea-
lures with which he had regaled the
Colorado sheriff before acQuainting
him with his novel scheme for evading
the Jaw.
"Evenin', Jack" he said, a. the
two turned toward him; "evenin',
Buck. What brings you folks this
way? Nothin' goin' wrong, is there?"
well, I'll put up our horses while
Jack tells you about It," said the man
addressed as Buck, and he disap-
peared into the rain again. Jack
looked rather awkwardly from one
to the other Of the men as though he
did not exactly relish the situation in
which he found himself.
Before 1 say anything MORE" he
began, addressing himself to Sheriff
M'Kinney, Il want to know II Bill
here Is your prisoner. You got here
first an, of course, II he's under ar
rest, he's yours, an we amt got any
thing more to say"
well, no." said Sheriff Mckinney;
''to tell the truth. he amt my pris-
oner."
Good" said the drenched new
conner; then we amt had our trip
for nothin'."
At that moment the man who had
gone out to care for the horses re-
turned and Jack greeted him glee-
fully.
IT'S all right, Buck" he said.
"Sheriff Mckinney says he hasn't Ar
rested Bill: 30 one of US is sure to
get him. You can take him IL you
want, because | know l can get him
when you're through with him. Bill,''
he continued, turning to Gordon, who
was listening with the same bored
smile on his face. I've got a war.
rant for you for runnin' OF Dad Wal
ters' three colts and Buck here has
got another warrant for you for case
down In his county. Now, we both
been lookin' for you a long time an
when we heard you was located in q
shack down here, we decided to come
after you together. Here you are an
hero We are, an don't s'pose you're
goin' to make any fuss about It, are
you, Bill?'
mo, amt goin' to make any fuss
about it." said Gordon, with a sly
wink at Sheriff Mckinney; only l
amt goin' with any Of you"
You ain't?" repeated Jack, fercely,
laying his hand upon ponderous re-
volver. We'll see about that"
wait minute. Jack" said Cor
don, In soothing toner take It easy.
You're sheriff Of San Juan county.
Utah, amt your"
Certainly l am" replied Jack, i'm
patiently.
"An' Buck there IL sheriff OF San
Juan county, New Mexico, amt her
went on Gordon.
"Oh, we all know that" said Buck.
starting forward. Lets stop this
foolishness."
wait minute, wait a minute, ("
warned Gordon, while Mckinney indus.
triously cleaned his pipe. Nov
neither one Of you two sheriffs ever
thought he had any right to serve
warrants In Arizony. did you?"
"Arizona!" exclaimed Jack. What
are you talking about?'
"Only this" said Gordon, settling
back agains. the wall, that I'm in
Arizony. Ask M'Kinney. He knows
about It. Beds in Utah. chairs in
Colorado. kegs in Arizony and sad.
dies in New Mexico"
What's all this about?" demanded
the Utah sheriff, turning to the Col.
orado sheriff.
81 guess Bnrs right" said Sheriff
Mckinney, III he's tellin' the truth,
an amt got much reason to doubt
that. We all know the state lines all
cross down here somewheres an BIZ
allows this Is the spot. He found the
pile OF stones the fellows put up to
mark It an he built his shack around
'em. l guess he's got the best Of II
while he stays on the nail keg."
The two outwitted sherifYs glared al
Gordon, at MKinney and at each 9th
er in turn. and in the silence the storm
could be heard roaring with redoubled
fury. At length the New Mexico sher'
in started impatiehSy.
This Is all nonsense" he said
sternly. Here we are. three sherirs
each with warrant for this fellow
Any one OF US can arrest him by main
force. Are we nil going to be bluffed
by this yarn about the state lines?"
you wouldn't want to do an Illegal
act like that, Buck" ventured Cor
don. winningly. Not you. Buck, In
front OF two witnesses. You know II
you dragged me out Of Arizony. where
I'm sittin' so comfortable, an took me