ng seemed so serene that I felt jubilant over the outlook.
Sponsilier's beeves had firmly caught the fancy of the buyers, and the
delay in closing the trade was only temporary. "I can close the deal
any minute I want to," said Siringo to me, "but we mustn't appear
too anxious. Old man Don's idea was to get about one hundred thousand
dollars earnest-money in hand, but if I can get five or ten more, it
might help tide us all over a hard winter. My last proposition to the
buyers was that if they would advance forty-five thousand dollars on the
'Apple' beeves--Sponsilier's cattle--they might appoint, at the seller's
expense, their own foreman from Dodge to the point of delivery. They
have agreed to give me an answer this morning, and after sleeping over
it, I look for no trouble in closing the trade."

The buyers were also astir early. I met Mr. Field in the post-office,
where he was waiting for it to open. To his general inquiries I reported
everything quiet, but suggested we move camp soon or the cattle would
become restless. He listened very attentively, and promised that
within a few days permission would be given to move out for our final
destination. The morning were the quiet hours of the town, and when the
buyers had received and gone over their large and accumulated mail, the
partners came over to the Dodge House, looking for the fiscal agent, as
I supposed, to close the trade on Sponsilier's cattle. Siringo was the
acme of indifference, but listened to a different tale. A trusted
man, in whom they had placed a great deal of confidence, had failed to
materialize. He was then overdue some four or five days, and foul play
was suspected. The wily detective poured oil on the troubled waters,
assuring them if their man failed to appear within a day or two, he
would gladly render every assistance in looking him up. Another matter
of considerable moment would be the arrival that morning of a silent
partner, the financial man of the firm from Washington, D.C. He was due
to arrive on the "Cannon Ball" at eight o'clock, and we all sauntered
down to meet the train from the East. On its arrival, Siringo and I
stood back among the crowd, but the buyers pushed forward, looking for
their friend. The first man to alight from the day coach, coatless and
with both eyes blackened, was Archie Tolleston; he almost fell into the
arms of our cattle buyers. I recognized Archie at a glance, and dragging
the detective inside the waiting-room