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!" CHAPTER X