"So you got a bunch of sheep and drove them down there to muss things up
some."
Norris looked sharply at him. "You got there while we were driving them
back. Well, that's right. We had to help her out."
"You're helping her out now, ain't you?" Jack asked dryly.
"That's my business. I've got my own reasons, Mr. Deputy. All you got to
do is arrest her."
"Just as soon as you give me the evidence, seh."
"Haven't I given it to you? She was seen to drive away from the house in
her rig. She left footprints down there. She came back up the ditch and
then rode right up to the head-gates and turned on the water. Jim Little
saw her cutting across country from the head-gates hell-to-split."
"Far as I can make out, all the evidence you've given me ain't against
her, but against you. She was out drivin' when it happened, you say, and
you expect me to arrest her for it. It ain't against the law to go
driving, seh. And as for that ditch fairy tale, on your own say-so you
wiped out all chance to prove the story."
"Then you won't arrest her?"
"If you'll furnish the evidence, seh."
"I tell you we know she did it. Her father knows it."
"Is it worryin' his conscience? Did he ask you to lay an information
against her?" asked the officer sarcastically.
"That isn't the point."
"You're right. Here's the point." Not by the faintest motion of the body
had the officer's indolence been lifted, but the quiet ring of his voice
showed it was gone. "You and Lee were overheard planning that robbery the
day after you were seen hanging around the 'Monte Cristo.' You started out
to hold up the stage. It was held up. By your own story you were the first
men on the ground after the robbery. I tracked you straight from there
here along the ditch. I found a black mask in Lee's coat. A dozen people
saw you on that fool sheep-drive of yours. And to sum up, I found the
stolen gold right here where you must have hidden it."
"You found the gold? Where?"
"That ain't the point either, seh. The point is that I've got you where I
want you, Mr. Norris, alias Mr. Boone. You're wound up in a net you cayn't
get away from. You're wanted back East, and you're wanted here. I'm onto
your little game, sir. Think I don't know you've been trying to
manufacture evidence against me as a rustler? Think I ain't wise to your
whole record? You're arrested for robbing the Fort Allison stage."