A portion of the cover being loose, Robson ripped it off, and putting his hand inside, drew out another paper.
"Ah ha! Maybe this is a solution of the mystery!" he cried. But, as his glance fell upon it, an impatient exclamation escaped him. "Of all the foolish stuff, this is the worst. Listen!
"'Go back where you came from,'" he read, "'and consider yourselves being laughed at. Ha, ha! U. R. Easy.
"'Yours—The Unterrified Band of Near-Bandits!'"
"What does this mean?" cried Piper, sternly, looking from one to another. A queer light gleamed in his eye.
"And we working like slaves," cried Robson, angrily.
"See here, Yardsley, and you chaps," broke in Piper, now quite convinced that they had been duped, "I have my opinion of a man of your age who does such tricks!"
Piper spoke in a loud and threatening manner, while Robson and Heydon seemed no less angry than himself.
"Softly," interrupted Yardsley. "Human natur' is queer—a bad case of misunderstandin' t'other night, an' a powerful wuss one now. I have a failin', I'll admit, but on my honor, Piper, this time the joke is on me."
His sincerity could not be doubted, and the three young men began to feel that they had acted too hastily.