"He has some capitalists consulting with him at the house now and he might be able to interest them so that it would not be necessary for you to go to New York for the money." The purpose to unmask him through the mines he, himself, had said he owned was as clear to the great desperado as though he had been in the banker's study the previous evening when the plan was unfolded. Remembering the old adage "forewarned is forearmed," Jesse determined to balk the attempt to catch him in the lie, yet not so bluntly as to let the bank president know that he had discovered his purpose. "I am deeply obliged for your father's interest," he dissembled, "but I do not need any outside assistance. Mr. Bemis brought a gentleman here last night who has arranged for the money and Mr. Sloan went away with him to pass the papers. "And now, if you'll excuse us, we have some business to discuss. Mr. Prentiss is returning to the mines in a day or so." Bewildered by the dashing of his hopes, young Rozier allowed himself to be bowed from the tent. As he stood on the other side of the canvass, Jesse's mocking laugh reached him. With a start, the banker's son realized that he had done all talking, had shown his hand and learned nothing in return. Flushing with rage, he scowled blackly at the tent, hissing: "Wait! Just wait!" and hurried to rejoin his father and the detectives. CHAPTER VII. JESSE BESTS THE DETECTIVES AT THEIR OWN GAME. Reading failure in the dejected expression on his son's countenance as he entered the study, Mr. Rozier waved his hand toward a chair. "There's no use telling us you haven't succeeded, your face shows it all too plainly," he said as the boy sat down. "All we want to know is _how_ it happened. Begin at the beginning and don't omit anything." "Not even the slightest detail," added one of the detectives. "What might seem trivial to you may be of the utmost importance to us." Desirous of getting through the ordeal as soon as possible, young Rozier related all that had occurred from the moment he had reached the crowd about the tent till he had been given his dismissal, even to the words he hurled at the canvas when he heard the gloating laugh. With many wise nods of their heads and frequent ejaculations, the man-hunters listened to the narrative. "You're quite right, my boy, only wait," exclaimed their leader as the story was concluded. "They were too smart for you, but they may not get off so easily when _we_ tackle them." Then turning to the bank president he went on: "You did well, Mr. Rozier, in sending for us. The way this Howard evaded all your son's questions proves that he is a slick article, one that isn't easily to be trapped. However, I think we will succeed in landing him and his two confederates." Disgusted at the conceit of the man, the bank president waited a few moments to see if the sleuth would suggest any line of action and finding that he did not, snapped: