Kirk pulled out the designated paper, glanced at it hastily; then he read it a second time, more carefully.
“Now, you see,” urged Teagler.
“This says Joseph Teagler is wanted for embezzlement of $25,000 from this same guy, Ellsworth Coster,” said Kirk, wonderingly. “You said your name was Teagler. That right?”
The thief glanced sharply from the picture on the circular before him to the prospector’s face. The photograph was of a man many years younger, clean-shaven, but the resemblance was unmistakable.
“That’s right,” echoed Teagler.
“Twelve years ago,” went on Kirk. “Well, what about it? What’s that got to do with me?”
“Here I am, and I never did no time for that job,” said Teagler. “This is a pretty safe place up here. You headed right, Kirk. I was workin’ for Coster, sellin’ farm lands. I got my hands on some cash that looked easy, and I beat it. We could be partners⸺”
Kirk was thinking rapidly.
“Where’s the stuff?” he demanded.
“What—” began Teagler.