row all figured
out like a timetable, and here it's all gummed up. Listen. What's that
in the yard--crunchin'? Varmints, likely. When I was here last we used
to throw out beef bones, and of nights we'd shoot through the doorway
at the noise. We got eight skunks and three coyotes and a fox and a
tub. Guess I'll try a shot now." He picked up his revolver and cocked
it.

"Hello, the house!" said a hurried voice outside.

"Why, it's a man!" said Johnny. He turned his gun upon Mr. Smith.
"One word and you're done," he whispered. His eye was convincing.
Smith petrified. Johnny raised his voice. "Hello, outside! You come
near getting shot for a skunk! If you want supper and shelter say
please and walk out loud like a man. I don't like your pussy-foot
ways."

"Come out of there--one at a time--hands up!" said the voice. "We've
got you surrounded. You can't get away!"

"On the contrary, we are behind thick walls, and you can get away if
you're right quick and immediate," said Johnny. "Inside of a minute
I'm going to empty a rifle out there on general principles. This is a
Bar Cross house. I am a Bar Cross man, where I belong, following
orders. Half a minute more!"

"You fool! This is the sheriff's posse!"

"I hear you say it."

"I am the sheriff of Socorro County," said another voice, "and I
summon you to surrender."

"I am a Bar Cross man in a Bar Cross house," repeated Johnny. "If
you're the sheriff, walk in that door on your hind legs, with your
hands up, and let us have a look at you."

"That's Johnny Dines talking!" said a third voice. "Hello, Dines! This
is me, Bill Fewell! Say, this is the sheriff and his posse all right!
Don't you get in wrong."

"One man may unbuckle his belt and back in at that door, hands up. If
you can show any papers for me, I surrender. While I give 'em the
quick look, the man that comes in is a hostage with my gun between his
shoulder blades. If he takes his hands down or anybody tries any funny
business, I'll make a sieve of him. Step lively!"

"Dines, you fool," bawled the sheriff, "I got nothing against you. But
I've got a warrant for that man in there with you, and I'm going to
have him."

"Oh!" A moment's silence. Then said Johnny, in an injured voice: "You
might ha' said so before. I've got him covered and I've taken his gun.
So now I've got one gun for him and one for the hostage. Send in one
man walking backward, hands up, warrant in his belt--and let him stop
right in th