The surprise of Jones and Higgins as they were accosted was no less than that of the others had been at seeing them.
Questions flew thick and fast.
The man-hunters who had been summoned by the bank president gave a hurried resumé of their case.
"Where are these fellows?" asked Higgins, when the story was finished.
"In their tent, I suppose. Why?"
"Because I want to look at them. We're down here trailing Susie James. She probably expects to meet her brothers here and from what you tell me, these miners may be our birds."
"You don't mean you think they're Jesse and some of his men?" gasped one of the "capitalists."
"I sure do. It's worth trying anyhow. You all round up Dillaby and the others and when we've tracked Susie to where she's going, we'll come back and meet you here in the square. Mum's the word."
And the two latest arrivals of the celebrated Pinkerton force hastened after the girl whom they had watched, as she continued up the street, while talking to their fellows.
Jones and Higgins were two of the detectives assigned to keep the Samuel's homestead, in Kearney, under constant vigil, following the inmates on their travels, which were few and far between, whenever it seemed advisable.