Part 21 (1/2)

”h.e.l.lo, John!” Lightnin' drawled, grinning. ”How's tricks? You look kinder legal this morning?”

CHAPTER XVI

As Bill made his way through the swinging gates, Blodgett put out a detaining arm, asking, with a scowl, ”Here, what do _you_ want?”

”Been arrestin' any one in California lately?” Bill slid past Blodgett, ignoring his attempt to stop him, the old twinkle in his eye as he touched what he knew to be the sheriff's sensitive spot.

”Well, Lightnin',” Marvin exclaimed, ”how did you get here and what in the world have you come for?”

”Yer case ain't over yet, is it?”

Marvin shook his head, repeating his first question.

Bill did not reply at once. Not wanting Marvin to know that he and Zeb had been nearly two weeks getting there, and that they had come in much the same way they had gone, riding when they could get a lift on a train or a wagon, walking when they could not, he pretended to forget the young man's questions, asking one himself instead, ”What time your case comin' up?”

”Two o'clock.”

The sheriff sauntered up to them. Bill knew the purpose of his approach was to catch the drift of their conversation, so he turned abruptly, his hands in his back pockets, and grinned at Blodgett. Nodding toward Marvin, he drawled, ”I'm a witness for him. I got to testify how you served a warrant on him.”

The sheriff glared and slouched over to his chair, throwing himself into it as he pulled his black sombrero down over his eyes.

Marvin, his arm about Bill's shoulders, leaned over him, guiding him gently to the attorneys' table. ”Well, Lightnin',” he questioned, in an indulgent voice, ”how did you happen to show up here?”

”I promised you, didn't I?”

”But that was a long time ago. I supposed you'd forgotten all about it.”

Bill glanced quickly at him and smiled. ”I ain't never forgotten nothin'

since I was four years old.”

Marvin, happy to see the old Lightnin' behind the boast, smiled, asking him, ”How did you know the trial was to-day?”

”That's easy,” Bill replied, as he sat against the edge of the table, steadying himself with his hands. ”I seen it in a Reno paper at the Home.”

”But I told you the time I came to see you that you needn't bother about coming. I wouldn't have had you come all this long way for the world if I had known it.” There was concern in Marvin's voice as he slowly dropped into a chair in front of Bill.

”That's why I didn't say nothin'.”

”Where did the money come from?”

”I saved my pension.” Bill glanced slyly at him. Catching his questioning eye, he stopped and looked through the window into the distance.

”You told me you sent your pension money to your wife!”

”I did--some of it. I sent mother six dollars, but I didn't get no answer.” The laughter went from Bill and he leaned over, looking toward the far hills, strange, unreal purple against the clear, cold blue of the April sky.

Marvin watched him, asking, ”Did you tell her you were in the Soldiers'

Home?”