"I think it is only fair to tell you, Mrs. Jones," Thomas was saying, a
delicate, apologetic note creeping into his voice as he caught sight of
Millie, "that this Marvin is not a proper person for your daughter to
see. I fully believed that he was a fine young man myself once, and you
cannot imagine my surprise when I discovered that he is the head of a
gang of thieves who are going all over this part of the country,
stealing timber."
"Mercy me!" cried Mrs. Jones. "A thief, no less!" Then, seeing Marvin
unexpectedly present in person, she glared at him. "Somethin' always
warned me against you, John Marvin! Oh, Millie, Millie! How many times
have I told you you was makin' a terrible mistake lettin' him annoy
you!"
Millie was evidently too astonished and puzzled to say anything.
Meanwhile, Thomas had flushed deeply on finding himself confronted by
the man he was in the act of damning. Instinctively he took a step back.
Blodgett made a quick move toward Marvin, but Hammond seized his arm and
stopped him.
"Hold on a minute, Blodgett," he whispered. "You can nab him later--he
can't very well get away from us now. I want to have a word, first--I'm
going to show this young cub just where he stands!"
Meanwhile, though the sheriff's move did not escape him, Marvin, a grim
smile on his face, was gazing steadily at Thomas.
"Go on, Thomas," he said, quietly. "I'm interested! What else were you
going to say to Mrs. Jones?"
Indifferently he strolled over beside Lightnin', who was in front of the
California desk, his hands in his pockets, his half-shut eyes roving
from one to another of the group. To look at him, one would not imagine
that Bill Jones had any special interest in the proceedings. He drew out
his bag of tobacco and papers and idly rolled a cigarette.
Thomas, having regained his poise again, turned to Mrs. Jones with his
dazzling smile. "I'm really very glad that the young man chanced to
present himself at this moment, Mrs. Jones, because--"
"That's all right, Thomas!" Hammond interrupted, suddenly thrusting
himself forward and waving the other aside. "But we have something much
more important on hand. Let's get to it! I can't monkey around here any
longer.
"Mrs. Jones," he went on, "I've been trying to get you all together
before I left, but you seem such busy people that it is as if I wouldn't
have this opportunity. I wanted to tell you that the company for which I
am acting has just wired me to close the transaction, and so I am ready
to take over the property at once!"
Mrs. Jones, bewildered by his briskness and the swift sequence of
events, stared at him, then transferred a gaze no less confounded to
Thomas. "You mean," she questioned, "that--that you want us to leave at
once?"
"Oh no! That's not necessary. But now that you have put your signature
to the deed, the transfer will be made at once and we'll take over the
management, allowing you to remain on until you have made your
arrangements for the future."
With a sharp nod to her and an insolent sneer directed at Bill, Hammond
swung on his heel and busied himself with a portfolio of papers he had
dropped on the Nevada desk.
"I'm sure you can have no objections to these arrangements, Mrs. Jones,"
said Thomas, his voice as smooth as glass, though there was a slight
quiver of his eyelids as he avoided Marvin's steady gaze and caught a
strange gleam that emanated from Bill's puckered-up eyes.
Mrs. Jones had forgotten all about Bill and his part in the signing of
the deed. But a multitude of thoughts were running through her mind,
confused as it was. All that she could think of now was the simplest
answer to Thomas's question. She stepped up to him and put a hand of
confidence on his arm.
"Certainly I do not mind," she said. "I'm delighted and relieved that it
is all settled!" Turning to Hammond, she added: "I want to leave the
whole matter in Mr. Thomas's hands. I'll do just as he advises."
"All right, Hammond," said Thomas, deliberately turning his back on old
Bill. "We shall deliver the deed to you at once, and you can take charge
of the place immediately. I presume you will want to have--"
"Hold on there, young feller!" Lightnin's usual lackadaisical monotone
was raised to a degree which bespoke a greater interest than his
careless attitude indicated. He stepped forward and stood in front of
Thomas, looking up at him with his shrewd gaze. When he felt that the
man was ready to give him sufficient attention, Bill returned to his
customary drawl.
"We ain't goin' to sell this place, my boy," he said. "Not until I
consult my lawyer!"
His words brought his wife to his side instantly, her eyes blazing.
"Bill Jones," she cried, "you just be quiet! What in the world's the
matter with you--tryin' to throw away a chance to be nice and
comfortable the rest o' your life! Are you crazy?"
"Nope. I'm the only one that ain't--'cept John, here."
Bill's steady, quiet grin exasperated Hammond and Thomas to white heat,
but they were too near their goal to miss it by a step. They knew that
under ordinary conditions Bill, in spite of his many shortcomings, held
first place in Mrs. Jones's affections, and that any show of harshness
toward him on their part might rally her unexpectedly to his support. So
they smothered their rage. Hammond leaned an elbow on the desk and
nonchalantly twirled his watch-chain, his mouth drawn into an ugly
sneer. Thomas continued his air of deference toward Mrs. Jones, leaning
over her with an appealing smile. Reacting to it, she took Bill by the
arm and shook it roughly.
"You just got to listen to reason, Bill!" she said, transfixing him with
angry eyes. "I set my heart on sellin' the place an' goin' to the city,
as you oughter know by now. An', besides, it's 'most all fixed up,
anyways--all but you signin' that deed. You got to do it, Bill!"
"You're all het up, mother," replied Bill, gazing at her with kindly
eyes. "Ease up a bit! Nope. I ain't goin' to sign no deed for them two
scamps--leastways not until I consult my lawyer!" And Bill pushed back
his battered slouch-hat and stuck his thumbs in his faded vest.
"Scamps--!"
But before Mrs. Jones could complete her sentence Marvin stepped forward
and put a friendly arm over Bill's shoulder.
"Bill's right, Mrs. Jones," he said, gently, though there was a fighting
light in his eyes as he met those of Thomas. "Lightnin' has no need to
apologize for anything he may say about these two men. This sale is a
nice little scheme of theirs. They are trying to rob you."
Millie, who had been listening to it all, amazed and abashed, now stared
at Marvin defiantly. "How dare you say that?" she blazed. "What right
have you to interfere?" She rallied to Mrs. Jones's side and placed an
affectionate arm around her waist.
Mrs. Jones was crying by this time. She wiped her eyes on her apron and
looked at Marvin. "So it's you who's been puttin' Bill up to this!" she
exclaimed. "I might have known--it's right in line with what we just
heard about you! Well, he don't need none o' your advice--you just leave
Bill alone!"
Marvin held out a deprecating hand. "But, Mrs. Jones, you don't
understand--"
Blodgett, at a sign from Hammond, strode up to Marvin and put a hand on
his shoulder. Marvin shook him off.
"Don't interrupt me now!" he said. "I've something more important to--"
"I'll show you how important it is!" said Blodgett, jingling a pair of
handcuffs in front of Marvin. "I got a warrant for your arrest for
stealin' timber! Put out your hands!"
Mrs. Jones and Millie stood by, bewildered, while Thomas, with
supercilious satisfaction in his smile, sank into a chair and crossed
his legs with an air. Hammond laughed coarsely.
Bill, his arm drawn through Marvin's, looked on, his enigmatic grin
between his half-closed eyes and half-open mouth betokening an
unswerving confidence in the ultimate.
"I can't be bothered with you now," said Marvin, addressing Blodgett.
"Bill needs--"
"None o' your lip!" Blodgett grabbed him roughly and attempted to place
a handcuff on one of his wrists, but Marvin flung him off and the
sheriff went sprawling. Marvin stepped back a pace or two as Blodgett
got up and came at him again, bawling, "Now you're worse off than
ever--resisting an officer of the law!"
Marvin, however, did not seem to be worried. He faced Blodgett with an
amused smile and pointed to the floor, where an uncovered space left
between two rugs indicated the now famous state line.
"Law?" Marvin echoed. "Why, Blodgett, old boy, don't you know any more
about law than to try to serve me with a Nevada warrant when I'm in the
state of California?"
"By jiminy, he's right!" cried Lightnin', clapping Marvin on the back.
"You got 'em where--where the rugs is short, John. Guess I didn't build
this house on the state line for nothin'!"
Blodgett started back with a howl of disgust, while Thomas and Hammond
looked at each other, making no effort to hide their chagrin. Millie had
given an exclamation--an exclamation that sounded very much like one of
relief, when she saw the sudden turn of the tables; but if it was an
expression of her inner and secret feelings, she quickly smothered it.
Mrs. Jones glared at Marvin with keen disgust and disappointment.
Lightnin', grinning, evidently was enjoying the scene hugely. Cocking
his old hat over one ear, he struck a pose of comic nonchalance against
the California desk and looked across the lobby at the furious Hammond.
"Hello, Hammond, old top!" he called, airily. "How's everythin' in
Nevada? Come on over to California, an'--an' have a glass o' water!"