"This is an unexpected pleasure! Come in, won't you? Because your fellow townsmen persist in treating us as though we were animals on exhibition we are obliged to keep the flap down." Jumping to the conclusion that his task was already as good as done because of the cordiality of the greeting when he had anticipated a brusqueness that would tax his diplomacy to overcome, the boy entered while his host once more closed and buttoned the canvass. Yet could he have seen the wink that Jesse sent to his pals from behind his back, the youth would have lost his confidence. His work which had taken but a few seconds, ended, the great outlaw turned to his guest. "This is Mr. Prentiss, Mr. Rozier and this is Mr. Bemis," he said introducing Clell and Cole. "Take a camp stool, won't you? I can't offer you a chair." Now that he was in the presence of the men he hoped to unmask and brand as villains, the banker's son was at a loss how to proceed and sat in embarrassed silence after acknowledging the introductions. Determined to leave the opening of the conversation to their caller, Jesse held his peace, enjoying the lad's increasing discomfiture. Taking their cues from their leader, Clell and Cole said nothing. The pause was awkward and each moment made it more so--for young Rozier. Try as he would, however, the lad could think of no way to make an opening for his questions. Obviously it would not do to ask about the mines abruptly. Finally, getting desperate, he took out his cigar case, stammering: "Have a--have a cigar?" "No thank you," responded Jesse. "My partner, Mr. Bemis, brought on a supply of a special kind we have made for us from Mexican tobacco and I prefer those." But despite his words, the bandit-chieftain made no move to get any. Nettled by the refusal, for he realized that it meant that the men before him would accept nothing, not even a smoke, from his hands, the banker's son summoned all his courage and asked: "Mr. Bemis wasn't here yesterday when you made your wonderful rescue of my sister, was he?" "No, he was not," returned the great outlaw. "I heard that some friends of yours had come--and gone--" he emphasized, "in the night. You should have got here before, Mr. Bemis. I never saw such remarkable nerve in my life." Ere Cole could reply, however, Jesse interposed: "By the way, your recalling the incident makes me think. Were you anywhere near me when we were punishing Consollas?" Unable to understand at what his questioner was driving when he knew that the latter must remember the quarrel over his sister's note, young Rozier replied, significantly: "I was at your elbow." "Oh, were you? There were so many strange faces I failed to recall yours." "He's trying to wriggle out of refusing Sally's request by pretending he didn't recognize me," thought the boy to himself and vowing not to let him, he was racking his brains for some way to block him when Jesse continued: "I'm glad. You may be able to help me.