The Senator chuckled. "I heard about it. Heard you offered to take on
Sears if he would put his gun on the table."

Bartley flushed. "I must have been excited."

The Senator leaned forward in his big, easy-chair. "Cheyenne wants me to
let him take a couple of horses to trail Panhandle. And, judging from
what Cheyenne said, he thinks you are going along with him. There's lots
of country right round here to see, without taking any unnecessary
risks."

"I understand," said Bartley.

"And this is your headquarters, as long as you want to stay," continued
the Senator.

"Thank you. It's a big temptation to stay, Senator."

"How?"

"Well, it was rather understood, without anything being said, that I
would help Cheyenne find his horses and mine. Dobe came back; but that
hardly excuses me from going with Cheyenne."

"But your horse is here; and you seem to be in pretty fair health, right
now."

"I appreciate the hint, Senator."

"But you don't agree with me a whole lot."