mmers, informing him of the sale, and
telling him to select the sort of horses from the herds that were
wanted, and to come through with them, bringing a sufficient number of
the boys with him to protect the stock and deliver it.

When the operator took the message and began to send it, Ted noticed
that the man with the checked suit was leaning against the wall,
apparently not paying any attention to what was going on. But Ted knew
by the way he was holding his head that he was a telegraph operator
also, and that he was reading the message as it went onto the wire.

"Say, Bud, we've had enough of that gentleman for one day, haven't we?"

"I shore hev."

"Then let's give him the slip."

"Easier said than done. Thet thar feller sticks like a leech ter a black
eye."

"I think we can do it."

"And how?"

"See that automobile over there? In front of that office."

"I see a long, low, rakish craft painted like an Eyetalian sunset. If
thet is yer means o' communication with ther other side o' ther river,
oxcuse me."

"Why, what's the matter with that? That's a mighty fine car."

"I reckon it is, but walkin's good ernuf fer me."

"But you'll never walk away from that shadow."

"I'll bet I kin run erway from 'his checkers' before we're halfway ter
St. Looey, even if I am a cow-puncher, an' muscle bound from straddlin'
a saddle fer so many years."

"What's the use, when we can run away from him in a gasoline wagon. That
machine is standing in front of the office of Truax & Wells, and they
have sold a lot of cattle for us in times past. It wouldn't surprise me
if the car belonged to one or the other of them, and that if we asked
for a lift to the other side they would be glad to let us have it."

"All right, if you're so keen on it, tackle 'em. You'll find me game ter
ride ther ole thing. I've rid everything from a goat ter a huffier, an'
yer kin bet yer gold-plugged tooth I ain't goin' ter welsh fer no ole
piece o' machinery."

They entered the office, and were at once greeted by an elderly man, Mr.
Truax, in a warm manner. After talking over things in general, Ted said:

"That's a fine car of yours out there, Mr. Truax."

"Funny thing about that car," said the commission merchant. "That's not
my car, and nobody seems to know whose car it is."

"That certainly is strange," said Ted. "How does it come to be standing
out there?"

"It was this way, and it's a good story, but none of the newspaper boys
have