The crowd had already begun to disperse, finding there was to be nothing to interest them. Lamson went away with Noddy, who vainly protested against being detained.
“Now take me to Pud Stoneham,” said the sheriff to Jerry. “I’ve been lookin’ for him for ’most a month. He’s wanted for a dozen crimes. Well, well, this is luck!”
“What about filing the claim?” asked Jerry, not losing sight of his important mission.
“You kin attend to that right off,” was the answer. “Then take me to the mine an’ I’ll attend to Pud Stoneham.”
Jerry lost no time in filing a formal proof of claim to the mine, and saw the record made in the Government books. Then, with a lighter heart than he had known for many a day, feeling that at least part of the hard work was over, he went to the auto, where the sheriff was waiting.
“I’ll take you out in the car,” said Jerry.
“I’d a heap sight rather have a mule,” commented the officer, eyeing the machine with a suspicious glance, “but I s’pose this is quicker. Don’t upset, now.”
“I won’t,” promised Jerry. “But, Mr. Sheriff, hadn’t you better take some help along? Pud and Dalsett are well armed.”
“That’s so. I’ll swear in a couple of deputies,” said the officer. “Here, you,” he called to two men passing by, “come with me, I may need you. Hold up your right hands. You swear to do whatever I tell you to, all right. I owe you fifty cents apiece, but you’ll have to git change. Never mind now, jump in the shebang. We’re after a man.”
Then the sheriff paused to take a much-needed breath. The two men, who didn’t seem surprised at being so suddenly called on to act, took their places in the machine and Jerry started off.