It was all over in ten minutes and court was promptly adjourned, and Master Ted’s great inheritance was secured to him if he lived up to all of the requirements of that remarkable document.
As the two Dunstans came out again the crowd surged about them in a craze of hoarse excitement. Tom and Joe were caught up by men and carried on their shoulders. It was a wild turmoil of laughter, cheering and shouting.
Laughing good-naturedly both boys presently escaped from those who were carrying them. Tom tried to push his way back to the Dunstans. The crowd tried to make way for him, but it could not all be done in an instant. While one of the young captain’s hands was behind him he felt a piece of paper thrust against the palm.
As soon as he could, in that great crush, Halstead brought his hand before him. On it, in scrawling letters, had been penned these words:
“It is all over—except your reward.”
Reward? Tom Halstead understood that message in an instant. It was a plain threat from the balked Alvarez crew.
CHAPTER XXII—JED RUNS A NAVAL BOMBARDMENT
“Get into my machine, all hands,” urged Deputy Sheriff Warren. “It’s the only way ever to get out of this crush.”
Those who could not sit in the auto had to stand, wedged in, as Warren, clearing a way as fast as he could, got the various members of the party to the car. Then, with a toot of the horn, the machine started.
“I want to get you all over to the hotel to see what is to be done in the way of prosecution,” the deputy explained to Mr. Dunstan. “Your lawyer can help us, too, if he will.”