blattin' yearlin' the first throw; and you been out West just three
days! You'll git along in this country."

"I hope so," laughed Bartley. "Speaking of getting along, I plan to
visit Senator Brown. How long will it take me to get there, riding the
bay?"

"He's got a runnin' walk that is good for six miles an hour. He's a
walkin' fool. And anything you git your rope on, he'll hold it till
you're gray-headed and got whiskers. That ole hoss is the best cow-hoss
in Antelope County--and I'm referrin' you to Steve Brown to back me up.
I bought that hoss from Steve. Any time you see the Box-S brand on a
hoss, you can figure he's a good one."

"I suppose I'd have to camp on the mesa two or three nights," said
Bartley.

"Nope! Ole Dobe'll make it in two days. He don't look fast, but the
trail sure fades behind him when he's travelin'. I'm kind of glad you
didn't try to buy the Antelope House. You'd started in pricin' the
stable, and kind of milled around and ast me what I'd sell the kitchen
for, and afore I knowed it, you'd 'a' had me selling the hotel for less
than the stable. I figure you'd made a amazin' hand at shootin' craps."

"Let's step over and buy that saddle, and the rest of it. Will you
engineer the deal? I don't know much about Western saddlery."

"Shucks! You can take that ole rig I was showin' you. She ain't much on
looks, but she's all there."