The
only trouble I had was to make the boys think it was a straight up
Democratic play, as they were nearly all originally from Texas. Now,
my friends here have told me that they are urging you to accept the
nomination for sheriff. I can only add that in case you consent, my
people stand ready to give their every energy to this coming campaign.
As far as funds are concerned to prosecute the election of an
acceptable sheriff to the cattle interests, we would simply be flooded
with it. It would be impossible to use one half of what would be
forced on us. One thing I can say positively, Mr. Seigerman: they
wouldn't permit you to contribute one cent to the expense of your
election. Cattle-men are big-hearted fellows--they are friends worth
having, Mr. Seigerman."

Louie drew a long breath, and it seemed that a load had been lifted
from his mind by these last remarks of Arab's.

"How many men are there in the Strip?" asked Arab of the others.

"On all three divisions of the last round-up there were something
like two thousand," replied Baugh. "And this county adjoins the Cattle
Country for sixty miles on the north," said Arab, still continuing
his musing, "or one third of the Strip. Well, gentlemen," he went on,
waking out of his mental reverie and striking the table with his fist,
"if there's that many men in the country below, I'll agree to vote one
half of them in this county this fall."

"Hold on a minute, aren't you a trifle high on your estimate?" asked
Stubb, the conservative, protestingly.

"Not a man too high. Give them a week's lay-off, with plenty to drink
at this end of the string, and every man will come in for fifty miles
either way. The time we voted the bonds won't be a marker to this
election."

"He's not far wrong," said Baugh to Stubb. "Give the rascals a chance
for a holiday like that, and they will come from the south line of the
Strip."

"That's right, Mr. Seigerman," said Arab. "They'll come from the west
and south to a man, and as far east as the middle of the next county.
I tell you they will be a thousand strong and a unit in voting. Watch
my smoke on results!"

"Well," said Stubb, slowly and deliberately, "I think it's high time
we had Mr. Seigerman's consent to make the race. This counting of our
forces and the sinews of war is good enough in advance; but I
must insist on an answer from Mr. Seigerman. Will you become our
candidate?"

"Shentlemens, how can I refuse to be one sheriff?