Ere his son could reply, however, there was a knock on the door and a servant announced that a telegram had arrived for Mr. Rozier. Noiselessly removing the paper from the keyhole and unlocking the door, the banker took the despatch. "The messenger boy wants to know if there's any answer," said the maid. Hastily tearing open the envelope, the president of the savings institution glanced at the contents, then replied: "Tell him 'no.'" When the retreating footsteps of the servant sounded on the hardwood floor of the hall, the banker turned to his son. "It's all right. The message says the men will leave tonight and arrive about seven in the morning. "Now leave me. I have some other matters to attend to. Don't stay out late to-night for you'll need a clear head and all your wits about you in the morning. "_The unmasking of the scoundrels and the revenge for the insults to our family rest practically on you._" Clouds were gathering about the heads of the bandits of which they were unwitting. CHAPTER VI. THE BATTLE OF WITS. Declining the invitations to tarry a while of the men who had loaned them their ponies, the outlaws were returning to their tents when they heard the whistle of an engine. "I'll bet that's the evening train," declared Frank. "Let's go down to the station. Cole and Texas ought to be showing up soon and if they should, it might mix things up badly if they started to ask questions in order to find us." "Good idea," assented his brother and accordingly the trio turned their footsteps toward the station. The train had brought its usual influx of people come to try the medicinal waters of the Springs and they were thronging into the town, some in carriages, others on foot, as the desperadoes turned into the street that led to the depot. Walking slowly, they scanned the faces of the new arrivals. At last the rush was over and the forms of only a few belated stragglers were visible. "Guess the boys didn't come," observed Clell. "It doesn't seem--hello, there they are," murmured Jesse hurriedly as he espied the broad shoulders and familiar, swinging gait of his pals. The recognition had been mutual and quickening their steps, Cole and Texas Jack were soon grasping the hands of their leader. Without returning their greetings the famous outlaw whispered: "Cole, your name for the present will be Ted Bemis; Jack, yours will be Ned Haskell." And he told them the aliases with which he had endowed Frank and Clell and himself, adding, "we're miners from Colorado on the way to New York to raise the wind to buy more mines." These important instructions delivered, the bandit-chieftain, with Cole at his side, led the way back to their tent, avoiding the square. During the walk, the new arrivals were briefly made aware of the incidents of the day, especially of the exclamation as Jesse's beard was started from its place that caused them so much anxiety.