him to eat in here. And, say, Bartley, we've got a little surprise for
you. One of my boys caught up your horse, old Dobe. Dobe was dragging a
rope. Looks like he broke away from some one. I had him turned into the
corral. Dobe was raised on this range."

"Broke loose and came back!" exclaimed Bartley. "That's good news,
Senator. I like that horse."

"But Cheyenne is out of luck," said the Senator. "He thought more of
those horses, Filaree and Joshua, than he did of anything on earth. I'll
send one of the boys back to the water-hole to-morrow, for your saddles
and outfit. But now you're here, how do you like the country?"

"Almost as much as I like some of the people living in it," stated
Bartley.

"Not including Panhandle Sears, eh?"

"I'm pretty well fed up on walking," and Bartley smiled.

"Sears is a worthless hombre," stated the Senator. "He's one of a gang
that steal stock, and generally live by their wits and never seem to get
caught. But he made a big mistake when he lifted Cheyenne's horses.
Cheyenne already has a grievance against Sears. Some day Cheyenne will
open up--and that will be the last of Mr. Sears."

"I had an idea there was something like that in the wind," said Bartley.
"Cheyenne hasn't said much about Sears, but I was present at that crap
game."