“Sleepin’,” he said.
“An’ before? Porque, the sheriff he has been. To mek an arres’ of you, I t’eenk.”
“Me?” said Jeff, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I haven’t done anything that I can remember now!”
“Sure? No small leetle cr-rime? Not las’ night? Me, I jus’ got up. I have not hear’.”
Jeff considered this suggestion carefully. “No. I am sure. Not for years. Some mistake, I guess. Or maybe he just wanted to see me about something else. Why didn’t he come in?”
“I mek r-reques’ of heem that he do not,” said Monte.
“I see,” Jeff laughed. “Come on; we’ll go see him. You don’t want to get into trouble.”
They crossed the bridge and met the sheriff just within the fortifications, returning in a crowded automobile. Jeff held up his hand. The machine stopped and the posse deployed—except Billy, who acted as chauffeur.
“You wanted to see me, sheriff—at the hotel?”
“Why, yes, if you don’t mind,” said the sheriff.