The daily tribune., 1909-02-15
WHERE
etls m
THE LINES
MEET
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz
sy PRANK K. rlrNEoAn

;
~. There is q spot In the southwestern
part of this country where man may
stand at one moment upon the soil OF
two states and two territories: where
II he moves but step in either, ,dirsc
ton, he may be entirely within the
boundaries of one commonwealth. with
another lying 20 close that his shad
ow, c8O by the MONDAY sun, may fall
on both of them. In all the broad er
panse of the United States, with III
hundreds of state lines crossing one
another. there Is no other place where
this Is possible. II was toward this
spot that a man on q faded cow pony
rode through driving storm one April
night. His broad brimmed hat was
pulled well down to protect his face
from the beating rain and the reins
hung loose upon the horses dropping
neck. for the cayuse knew the trail
across the mesa better than its master
in the blackness of the night.
In . few moments the ., cayuss
stopped before a rough shack. through
the window OF which the light was
cleaning. The man threw himself
from the horse led tho animal 20 q
lsan-to behind the shack, and than en-
tered the cabin. In the single room he
saw a heavily built, forbidding-look.
ing man seated near table. smoking
and yainly trying by the light Of the
smoky lamp to read soiled frag.
ment of . month.old newspaper. He
thn
open and surveyed the intruder
calmly.
Hello, BILL" he said after a mo
ment, during which the two men had
stared at each other; u was ,wxiin'
for you"
door, AN you seem to be maxim
yourself at home while you're walt
in"
He crossed the room and seated
himself on the edge OF tumbled bed
near the western wall OF the cabin.
Watching the man near the table with
= furtive smile he fished a blackened
edge Of the bed. blew into 1t, and said:
IF you don't mind bein' obligin'.
I'd just as soon have pipeful of that
tobacco you're smokin'."
Sure" eaid the man at the table,
drawing out a greasy pouch. Come
an take all you want"
The man on the bed eyed him mar
rowly a moment, knocked his pipe
against his horny palm once or twice,
and said:
"Td rather you'd toss 1t over"
Whats the odds" asked the man
at the table, lightly, but he tossed
the pouch over and his companion
filled and lighted his pipe. When the
blue clouds were adding their mite to
the closeness of the atmosphere. the
man at the table turned sharply to the
man on the bed.
BILL" he said, 'T don't s'pose It'll
take much talk from me to explain
what I'm here for. been lookin' for
you for a month all over Montezuma
county. an | said to the boys would
not come back without you. l sort Of
lost track of you for spell until =
COW puncher up near McElmo told me
you had built this shack down hero
near the San Juan an come right
on here to get you. Not nndin' you
at home. ! made myself comfortable
KNOWN you'd come sooner or later. Do
you want me to tell you what / come
forr"
Sure" said Bill. II know never
sent for you. Tom Mckinney. an I'd get
along here powerful comfortable for
long time II you didn't make II NO
point TO drop in on me-"
well, maybe So" admitted McKin-
ney. slowly; but you see, Bill, my
comm amt what the folks back In
the states refer to as a social call. It's
more connected with business, you
know. Bill. seein' as how I've got in
my pocket warrant for the arrest
OF one Bill Gordon for the crime of
horse stealin'. contrary To the peace
an order of Montezuma county, Colo
RADIO. E>reckon you won't deny that
you're Bill Gordon. leastways not to
me, that has knowed you for IL years.
up rough about It, because you've
knowed me the same length OF time"
Bill Gordon smoked thoushuully 4
few moments. with the shadow Of .
smile on his features.
mo. Tom" he said At length. y
amt goin' to deny that I'm Bill Cor
don. but I'm sorry that you've come all
this way in such bad weather Just
to tell me that. because you'll have TO
leave your warrant In your pocket an
go back without me-"
The smile vanished from McKinnsy's
face. giving way to fierce glare
which no whit dismayed the com.
piAcsnt Bill Gordon.
I'm have TO 10 back without your"
repeated Mckinney. Don't you recog.
nize me as the sheriff OF Montezuma
county. state Of Colorado?"
Surely" said Gordon calmly. blow.
L. m Mic rtpud NJ .,p,L. t,tn IA. q,