e　quiet；　languid　old　Jun。　The　various　foremen　and　their　outfits　were　aware　of　the　impending　trouble　over　the　Buford　delivery；　and　quietly　expressed　their　contempt　for　such　underhand　dealings。　Quince　Forrest　had　spent　the　evening　before　in　town；　and　about　midnight　his　herd　of　〃Drooping　T's〃　were　sold　at　about　the　same　figures　as　mine；　except　five　thousand　more　earnest…money；　and　the　privilege　of　the　buyers　placing　their　own　foreman　in　charge　thereafter。　Forrest　further　reported　that　the　fiscal　agent　and　the　strangers　had　started　to　meet　Sponsilier　early　that　morning；　and　that　the　probability　of　all　the　herds　moving　out　in　a　few　days　was　good。
  Seay　and　his　charge　were　still　absent；　and　the　programme；　as　outlined；　was　working　out　nicely。　With　the　exception　of　Forrest　and　myself；　the　other　foremen　were　busy　looking　after　their　outfits；　while　Bob　Quirk　had　his　wagon　to　load　and　start　on　its　return。　Quince　confided　to　me　that　though　he　had　stayed　on　Duck　Creek　the　night　before；　his　herd　would　noon　that　day　on　Saw　Log；　and　camp　that　evening　on　the　next　creek　north。　When　pressed　for　his　reasons；　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　with　a　quiet　wink；　said：　〃If　this　new　outfit　put　a　man　over　me；　just　the　minute　we　get　out　of　the　jurisdiction　of　this　county；　off　his　horse　he　goes　and　walks　back。　If　it's　Tolleston；　the　moment　he　sees　me　and　recognizes　my　outfit　as　belonging　to　Lovell；　he'll　raise　the　long　yell　and　let　the　cat　out。　When　that　happens；　I　want　to　be　in　an　unorganized　country　where　a　six…shooter　is　the　highest　authority。〃　The　idea　was　a　new　one　to　me；　and　I　saw　the　advantage　of　it；　but　could　not　move　without　Siringo's　permission；　which　Forrest　had。　Accordingly　about　noon；　Quince　summoned　his　men　together；　and　they　rode　out　of　town。　Looking　up　a　map　of　Ford　County；　I　was　delighted　to　find　that　my　camp　on　Saw　Log　was　but　a　few　miles　below　the　north　line。
  Among　the　boys　the　day　passed　in　riotousness。　The　carousing　was　a　necessary　stimulant　after　the　long；　monotonous　drive　and　exposure　to　the　elements。　Near　the　middle　of　the　forenoon；　Flood　and　The　Rebel　rounded　up　their　outfits　and　started　south　for　the　Mulberry；　while　Bob　Quirk　gathered　his　own　and　my　lads　preparatory　to　leaving　for　the　Saw　Log。　I　had　agreed　to　remain　on　guard　for　that　night；　for　with　the　erratic　turn　on　Tolleston's　part；　we　were　doubly　cautious。　But　when　my　outfit　was　ready　to　start；　Runt　Pickett；　the　feisty　little　rascal；　had　about　twenty　dollars　in　his　possession　which　he　insisted　on　gambling　away　before　leaving　town。　Runt　was　comfortably　drunk；　and　as　Bob　urged　humoring　him；　I　gave　my　consent；　provided　he　would　place　it　all　at　one　bet；　to　which　Pickett　agreed。　Leaving　the　greater　part　of　the　boys　holding　the　horses；　some　half…dozen　of　us　entered　the　nearest　gambling…house；　and　Runt　bet　nineteen　dollars　〃Alec〃　on　the　first　card　which　fell　in　a　monte　lay…out。　To　my　chagrin；　he　won。　My　brother　was　delighted　over　the　little　rascal's　luck；　and　urged　him　to　double　his　bet；　but　Pickett　refused　and　invited　us　all　to　have　a　drink。　Leaving　this　place；　we　entered　the　next　gaming…hall；　when　our　man　again　bet　nineteen　dollars　alec　on　the　first　card。　Again　he　won；　and　we　went　the　length　of　the　street；　Runt　wagering　nineteen　dollars　alec　on　the　first　card　for　ten　consecutive　times　without　losing　a　bet。　In　his　groggy　condition；　the　prospect　of　losing　Pickett's　money　was　hopeless；　and　my　brother　and　I　promised　him　that　he　might　come　back　the　next　morning　and　try　to　get　rid　of　his　winnings。
  Two　whole　days　passed　with　no　report　from　either　Seay　or　the　buyers。　Meanwhile　Flood　and　The　Rebel　threaded　their　way　through　the　other　herds；　crossing　the　Arkansaw　above　town；　their　wagons　touching　at　Dodge　for　new　supplies；　never　halting　except　temporarily　until　they　reached　the　creek　on　which　Forrest　was　encamped。　The　absence　of　Siringo　and　the　buyers；　to　my　thinking；　was　favorable；　for　no　doubt　when　they　came　in；　a　deal　would　have　been　effected　on　the　last　of　the　Buford　herds。　They　returned　some　time　during　the　night　of　the　third　day　out；　and　I　failed　to　see　the　detective　before　sunrise　the　next　morning。　When　I　did　meet　him；　everything　seemed　so　serene　that　I　felt　jubilant　over　the　outlook。　Sponsilier's　beeves　had　firmly　caught　the　fancy　of　the　buyers；　and　the　delay　in　closing　the　trade　was　only　temporary。　〃I　can　close　the　deal　any　minute　I　want　to；〃　said　Siringo　to　me；　〃but　we　mustn't　appear　too　anxious。　Old　man　Don's　idea　was　to　get　about　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　earnest…money　in　hand；　hut　if　I　can　get　five　or　ten　more；　it　might　help　tide　us　all　over　a　hard　winter。　My　last　proposition　to　the　buyers　was　that　if　they　would　advance　forty…five　thousand　dollars　on　the　'Apple　'beeves　Sponsilier's　cattlethey　might　appoint；　at　the　seller's　expense；　their　own　foreman　from　Dodge　to　the　point　of　delivery。　They　have　agreed　to　give　me　an　answer　this　morning；　and　after　sleeping　over　it；　I　look　for　no　trouble　in　closing　the　trade。〃
  The　buyers　were　also　astir　early。　I　met　Mr。　Field　in　the　post…office；　where　he　was　waiting　for　it　to　open。　To　his　general　inquiries　I　reported　everything　quiet；　but　suggested　we　move　camp　soon　or　the　cattle　would　become　restless。　He　listened　very　attentively；　and　promised　that　within　a　few　days　permission　would　be　given　to　move　out　for　our　final　destination。　The　morning　were　the　quiet　hours　of　the　town；　and　when　the　buyers　had　received　and　gone　over　their　large　and　accumulated　mail；　the　partners　came　over　to　the　Dodge　House；　looking　for　the　fiscal　agent；　as　I　supposed；　to　close　the　trade　on　Sponsilier's　cattle。　Siringo　was　the　acme　of　indifference；　hut　listened　to　a　different　tale。　A　trusted　man；　in　whom　they　had　placed　a　great　deal　of　confidence；　had　failed　to　materialize。　He　was　then　overdue　some　four　or　five　days；　and　foul　play　was　suspected。　The　wily　detective　poured　oil　on　the　troubled　waters；　assuring　them　if　their　man　failed　to　appear　within　a　day　or　two；　he　would　gladly　render　every　assistance　in　looking　him　up。　Another　matter　of　considerable　moment　would　be　the　arrival　that　morning　of　a　silent　partner；　the　financial　man　of　the　firm　from　Washington；　D。　C。　He　was　due　to　arrive　on　the　〃Cannon　Ball〃　at　eight　o'clock；　and　we　all　sauntered　down　to　meet　the　train　from　the　East。　On　its　arrival；　Siringo　and　I　stood　back　among　the　crowd；　but　the　buyers　pushed　forward；　looking　for　their　friend。　The　first　man　to　alight　from　the　day　coach；　coatless　and　with　both　eyes。　blackened；　was　Archie　Tolleston；　he　almost　fell　into　the　arms　of　our　cattle　buyers。　I　recognized　Archie　at　a　glance；　and　dragging　the　detective　inside　the　waiting…room；　posted　him　as　to　the　arrival　with　the　wild　look　and　blood…shot　optics。　Siringo　cautioned　me　to　go　to　his　room　and　stay　there；　promising　to　report　as　the　day　advanced。
  Sponsilier　had　camped　the　night　before　on　the　main　river；　and　as　I　crossed　to　the　hotel；　his　commissary　pulled　up　in　front　of　Wright；　Beverly　&　Co。's　outfitting　store。　Taking　the　chances　of　being　seen；　I　interviewed　Dave's　cook；　and　learned　that　his　foreman　had　given　him　an　order　for　the　supplies；　and　that　Sponsilier　would　not　come　in　until　after　the　herd　had　passed　the　Saw　Log。　As　I　turned　away；　my　attention　was　attracted　by　the　deference　being　shown　the　financial　man　of　the　cattle　firm；　as　the　party　wended　their　way　around　to　the　Wright　House。　The　silent　member　of　the　firm　was　a　portly　fellow；　and　there　was　no　one　in　the　group　but　did　him　honor；　even　the　detective　carrying　a　light　grip；　while　Tolleston　lumbered　along　with　a　heavy　one。
  My　effacement　was　only　temporary；　as　Siringo　appeared　at　his　room　shortly　afterward。　〃Well；　Quirk；〃　said　he；　with　a　smile；　〃I　reckon　my　work　is　all　done。　Field　and　Radcliff　didn't　feel　like　talking　business　this　morning；　at　least　until　they　had　shown　the　financial　member　their　purchases；　both　real　and　prospective。　Yes；　they　took　the　fat　Colonel　and　Tolleston　with　them　and　started　for　your　camp　with　a　two…seated　rig。　From　yours　they　expect　to　drive　to　Forrest's　camp；　and　then　meet　Sponsilier　on　the　way　coming　back。　No；　I　declined　a　very　pressing　invitation　to　go　alongyou　see　my　mixed　herds　might　come　in　any　minute。　And　say；　that　man　Tolleston　was　there　in　a　hundred　places　with　the　big　conversation；　he　claims　to　have　been　kidnapped；　and　was　locked　up　for　the　last　four　days。　He　says　he　whipped　your　man　Seay；　but　couldn't　convince　the　authorities　of　his　innocence　until　last　night；　when　they　set　him　free。　According　to　his　report；　Seay's　in　jail　yet　at　a　little　town　down　the　road　called　Kinsley。　Now；　I'm　going　to　take　a　conveyance　to　Spearville；　and　catch　the　first　train　out　of　there　East。　Settle　my　bill　with　this　hotel；　and　say　that　I　may　be　out　of　town　for　a　few　days；　meeting　a　herd　which　I'm　expecting。　When　Tolleston　recognizes　all　three　of　those　outfits　as　belonging　to　Don　Lovellwell；　won't　there　be　hell　to　pay？　Yes；　my　work　is　all　done。〃
  I　fully　agreed　with　the　detective　that　Archie　would　recognize　the　remudas　and　outfits　as　Lovell's；　even　though　the　cattle　were　road…branded　out　of　the　usual　〃Circle　Dot。〃　Siringo　further　informed　me　that　north　of　Ford　County　was　all　an　unorganized　country　until　the　Platte　River　was　reached　at　Ogalalla；　and　advised　me　to　ignore　any　legal　process　served　outside　those　bounds。　He　was　impatient　to　get　away；　and　wh