another example of the James Boys' cunning," said Jack, finally
breaking the silence.

"To what do you allude?" moodily asked the sheriff.

"Why, Jesse James timing his arrival here during the fair."

"In what way was that a sharp move?"

"To do this job he would need the gang, wouldn't he?"

"I think he would not venture it without them."

"And he must have known the fair was going on."

"Probably he did."

"Wouldn't the entrance of his gang to the town excite a great deal of
comment and attention if there were no fair?"

"Naturally, as crowds in country towns are unusual."

"Well, I figure it that he knew the fair was in progress here, that he
knew the crowd would cloak his entrance of his gang, and they would
therefore excite no suspicion."

"That seems to be pretty likely."

"Would you know all the men if you saw them?"

"I believe so--at any rate, I would recognize the old members. He
occasionally recruits new men. We have wiped out some of the newer
element. I noticed that although some of the old bandits were wounded
during our engagement with them, the ones who fell were mostly new men.

"That's the reason they fell perhaps. The older birds had experience
enough to keep out of harm's way."

"Well, if any of them happen to go into that bank, you can rest assured
that I'll recognize them."

"It's half-past two now, but they haven't materialized yet."

"Maybe Wood Hite was lying to save his life."

"No--I think not. His tones had a truthful ring."

Jack glanced across the street at the bank.

It was a a small brick building, with two iron-barred windows and a door
flush with the street, through which he could see the entire interior.

There were half a dozen clerks busy inside behind a long desk, before
which there was a wire netting that rose almost to the ceiling.

The first window nearest the door was that of the cashier, the next was
that of the paying-teller, and the next the receiving-teller, after
which followed the book-keepers and discount clerk.

All were busy at their various occupations, as it had been a rush day,
in consequence of the large crowd.

Jack had seen every man, woman and child, who had gone in or come out
since midday, and he had scanned every one who had passed by without
detecting a bandit.

Yet his patience did not give out.

"Do you suppose our prisoner knows what method Jesse James will employ
in his attempted raid?" he asked.

"No. He never tells his