Without a word from Barker three husky men sprang upon him and several pistols covered the other two men, who were ordered to dismount.
“Search him!” said Barker. “He is the man. I want to know why he wants possession of the boys.”
Hicks tried to tell the lies about kidnapped nephews and stolen horses, but the teamsters shook him into silence.
“Close up,” one of the men ordered. “You’re too late; we know all about you.”
A soiled piece of paper was found on Hicks.
“The bearer of this,” it read, “is to receive $10,000 if no heirs of Col. Henry P. Deming are found before January first, 1864.
“John C. Chesterton.”
“What does it mean?” demanded Barker.
“I don’t know,” protested Hicks. “I didn’t know I had the rag and don’t know where it came from.”
“All right!” said the spokesman of the teamsters. “Boys, tie him to that gum-tree.
“Hicks, you have just five minutes to explain that paper and say anything else you may want to say.