Declining to broach the reason for their summons till the men had breakfasted, the banker took them to his den as soon as the meal was finished.
Employing the same precautions against eavesdroppers that he had when talking with his son, Mr. Rozier motioned them to chairs, offered them cigars and, taking his place at his desk, laid the case before them.
"Allow me to compliment you, sir, on your lucid exposition of the facts," remarked the man in charge of the detectives, patronizingly, as the banker concluded. "If I had been directing the case myself I couldn't have done it better.
"May I suggest that young Mr. Rozier be sent on his mission at once? The sooner he makes a report on the case, the sooner shall we be able to get to work."
Acquiescing readily, the bank president ordered his son to start, with the injunction to keep his head about him.
Astonished at the crowd surrounding his destination so early, young Rozier quickly learned its cause.
Perplexed by the information, he nevertheless elbowed his way to the still closed tent flap.
After vainly trying to attract the attention of the inmates by scratching on the canvas, he called:
"I say, Mr. Howard, let a fellow in, won't you? I'm Rozier, Forman A. Rozier, Jr."
Although the outlaws had heard the first tampering with the tent, they made no move till the request was uttered.