wrangler's horse, coming up on the opposite side of the column of
cattle from the vehicle. Supposing he had something of a private
nature to communicate, I leisurely rode down the line and met
him.

"Did you send that man in this morning?" he sternly demanded. I
explained that my brother had done, properly coached, and that
Seay would go in with me in the course of an hour.

"Give him any money you have and send him at once," commanded the
detective. "Tolleston was due on the ten o'clock train, but it
was an hour late. Those buyers wanted me to wait for it, so he
could come along, but I urged the importance of catching you at
the ford. Now, send your man Seay at once, get Tolleston beastly
drunk, and quarter him in some crib until night."

Unobserved by the buyers, I signaled Seay, and gave him the
particulars and what money I had. He rode back through the saddle
stock, recrossed the river, and after rounding the bend, galloped
away. Siringo continued: "You see, after we traded, they inquired
if you were a safe man, saying if you didn't know the Yellowstone
country, they had a man in sight who did. That was last night,
and it seems that this morning they got a letter from Tolleston,
saying he would be there on the next train. They're either struck
on him, or else he's in their employ. Mark my words."

When we had showed the herd to the satisfaction of the
purchasers, they expressed themselves as anxious to return to
town; but the fiscal agent of the Marshall estate wished to look
over the saddle horses first. Since they were unsold, and