"There's no need of getting so unnerved, sir," rejoined Dillaby. "If he prove the man we want, his capture will remove all danger from you." "If you could catch him, yes. But you haven't done it yet--and you won't either. A man who can make a monkey of you the way this 'Howard' did, won't be caught easily. He knows you are detectives. If he's Jesse, I'll wager he isn't in his tent now! "Forman," the president of the savings institution exclaimed, as he looked at his watch, "you've got just time to catch the train north. Don't stop to get a bag. I want you to go to Ste. Genevieve at once and warn Harris to send out our funds to Kansas City on the first train, keeping only ten thousand dollars on hand. "Jesse James, if he and 'Howard' are one, may raid my bank!" CHAPTER IX. THE STORM BREAKS. Angered by the lack of confidence in their shrewdness and ability the banker's words and actions disclosed, Dillaby rose from his chair, bowed stiffly and said: "You'll think differently, sir, within twenty-four hours. Come, boys." But Mr. Rozier's response was a snort of disgust that further enraged the man-hunters. "The old mutton-head! I wish Jesse _would_ rob his bank! It would serve him right!" snapped one of them. No comment, however, did his comrades vouchsafe. Each was occupied with his own thoughts and chief among these thoughts was a grim determination to prove to the banker that his opinion of them was erroneous. Arrived at the rendezvous in the square, Dillaby and his men were forced to wait some minutes before they beheld their fellows hurrying to join them. Without wasting any time, the eight men, with Higgins and the superintendent of the Kansas City office in lead, set out for the campground. Nearing the place, Jones said: "When we get to the tent, the rest of you surround it. Higgins and I will go inside and interview the miners." "But there are three of them," protested Dillaby. "What if there are? We can call for help if we need any." As the reader knows, there was no need. When the detectives had reached a point from which the camp the suspects had occupied could be seen, they instantly noticed that the roan mare was gone. Ordering a double-quick as the information was imparted to him, Higgins dashed up to the tent. A glance at the overturned chairs and tables inside told of the haste of the supposed miners' departure. "Ha! they opened your package of wine, Dillaby," cried Jones when he and his side partner had vented their disappointment at finding the men had taken alarm and vanished. "If we could only trail 'em we could examine them at our leisure. There's enough dope in that Madeira to knock 'em out for hours, if it doesn't put 'em out of the way altogether."