leave the car until his return.

He was back in a short time.

"We go out at two o'clock, boys," he announced upon his return.
"I am leaving the banner men here. They will take a late train
out tonight, and join us in the morning."

An express train came thundering in, and before Bob Tripp knew
what was in the wind it had coupled on to Car Three. A few
moments later Phil Forrest and his crew were bowling away for
the next stand. His rivals would not be able to get another
train out until very late that night.

Late in the afternoon Bob Tripp's country crew returned, tired,
disgusted and glum.

"Well, what is it?" demanded the now thoroughly
irritated manager.

"Not a dozen sheets of paper put up by the whole crew," was the
startling announcement. "That Sparling outfit has plastered
every spot as big as your hand for forty miles around here."

"What! Why didn't you cover them?" shrieked the manager.

"Cover them--nothing! They had every location cinched and
nailed down. Every farmer stood over the other fellow's paper
with a shot gun."