"If you wish, I will draw the papers. In the mean time, as a justice of the peace, I will grant you warrants for their arrest on the ground of trespass.
"Jefferson, by virtue of my powers, I appoint you a special officer to conduct these men to my office.
"And you, men, let me advise you to obey quietly—or it will go all the harder with you.
"Lead the way, Jefferson. I'll watch them from behind."
Their breath taken away by the sudden change in affairs, the man-hunters moved forward, when there was a crash overhead.
In amazement, everyone looked at the ceilings, but the next moment there came sounds of hurried feet on the back stairs.
"There they are! Let us go! It's Jesse James!" shouted Higgins, making a spring for the hallway, only to find himself headed off by the rush of men and women.
Driven almost distracted by the suffocating influx of smoke and later by the fumes from the salt, the desperadoes had stood it till they heard the arrival of the lawyer.
Believing that in the resulting confusion, they would be able to get away, or at least out of the house, the bandit-chieftain had whispered his intentions to his pals.
When he tried the little door, however, he had found that he could not open it from the inside.