Part 49 (2/2)
”Under the circ.u.mstances, then, what's yore advice, Judge?”
”I ain't got no particular advice to give,” replied Dolan, promptly.
”I'm a judge, not a lawyer, but I'm free to say even if I was a lawyer, I dunno exactly what I'd do, or where I'd begin.”
Racey nodded. He didn't see exactly where to begin, either.
”Lookit, Judge,” he said at last, ”can't you sort of delay the proceedin's for a while?”
”I'll do what I can,” a.s.sented Dolan, ”but I can't keep it up forever.
I'm sworn to obey the law and see that it is obeyed. And if Luke Tweezy's paper can't be proved a forgery certain and soon, they's only one thing for me to do and one thing for the Dales to do. I'm sorry, but that's the way it stands under the law.”
It was then that the door-latch clicked and one entered without knocking. It was Luke Tweezy. Beyond the merest flicker of a glance he did not acknowledge the presence of Racey Dawson. He nodded perfunctorily to Dolan.
”Mornin', Judge,” said he, ”are the papers ready for the sheriff yet?”
”Not yet, Luke, not yet,” Dolan a.s.sured, him blandly. ”I ain't had time to get at 'em.”
”When you gonna get at 'em?”
”Soon as I get time.”
”But lookit here, Judge. We're bein' delayed. We wanna get the Dales off their ranch soon as we can.”
”Off _their_ ranch is sh.o.r.e the truth,” struck in Racey. ”You do tell it sometimes, don't you, Luke?”
But Luke Tweezy was not to be drawn that morning. He focussed his eyes and attention steadily on Judge Dolan.
”We wanna take possession soon as we can,” persisted Luke Tweezy.
”Sh.o.r.e you do,” said the Judge, heartily. ”No reason why you shouldn't wanna as I know of.”
”If you can't see yore way to getting at this business within a reasonable time I'll have to sue out a mandatory injunction against you, Judge, and--”
Dolan smiled wintrily. ”What judge are you figuring on to grant this injunction?”
Luke Tweezy was silent.
”You don't expect me to grant a mandatory injunction against myself, do you?” pursued Dolan.
”I can go to Judge Allison at Marysville or to Piegan City, and I guess--”
”I guess not,” interrupted the Judge. ”Judge Allison, as you know, is a Federal Judge, and these here eviction proceedin's are territorial business. And, furthermore, lemme point out that the Piegan City court ain't got any jurisdiction in this case.”
”Why not?”
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