"That remains to be seen. I've found, in my experience in the world, that it's best to act first and talk afterward. "What do you propose to do?" Disconcerted by the putting into words of the very question that was puzzling him, the detective replied: "Why, go 'round to see them." "And talk about the mines again, eh?" interrupted Mr. Rozier. "Stuff and nonsense! You might just as well say we're detectives and we're trying to find some grounds for arresting you." "Well, what do _you_ suggest?" asked the man, nettled at the speech and manner of the banker. With the burden of the responsibility for the success or failure of their purpose thus shifted to his shoulders, Mr. Rozier thrummed on his desk, scowling. "_I_ should say the thing for you to do was to mingle with the crowd that's watching them, if there is any now, so that if they come out you can shadow them, that's the word you detectives use, isn't it? If they try to get away, stop them." "How? We've no right to interfere with a man's movements unless we can make some specific charge against him. If we did, he'd have an action at law against us. They're not vagrants because they have money and if we should arrest them as suspicious characters what could we prove?" "Could you get at them, or Howard at any rate, for wearing false whiskers?" inquired young Rozier. "There's no law against that, of which I'm aware," qualified the man-hunter, "but you've given me an idea. "We might hire some tough to pick a row with them and snatch off the beard." "After the experience with young Consollas I fancy no one could get near enough to them," observed the banker. "True," admitted the detective, reluctantly. Then his face brightened: "You don't suppose your daughter could cozzen Howard into talking about his mines, do you?" His face livid with rage, the president of the savings institution brought his fist down on his desk with a bang, thundering: "No sir, I don't! And what's more, Miss Rozier is not to be brought into our conversation again, just understand that. The quicker you do the better. If you can't devise any plan of getting around these men by yourselves or with my son's or my assistance just say so and I'll pay your bill and you can go back to Kansas City." Alarmed at the fervor of the outburst, the man-hunter set himself about making reparation for his unlucky suggestion and finally succeeded in pacifying the enraged banker. But when this had been accomplished, they were no nearer the solution of their problem than before. One by one, various plans were proposed, discussed and rejected. "There's one thing we can do," remarked a sleuth who had taken no previous part in the debate. Expectantly the others looked at him. "Out with it, man!" commanded the banker. "If you've got an idea, for goodness' sake let's hear it." "What I was going to say was that we could wait till night and when they are asleep go through their clothes and luggage."