lp I may need, for it's quite likely that I may have to call upon
you. If a ring of government speculators can come out here and refuse
service, or dictate to my office, then old Keith County is certainly on
the verge of decadence. Now, I'll be all ready to start for the North
Fork in fifteen minutes, and I'd admire to have you all go along."

Lovell and Reed both expressed a willingness to accompany the sheriff.
Phillips thanked them and nodded to the force behind the mahogany, who
dexterously slid the glasses up and down the bar, and politely inquired
of the double row confronting them as to their tastes. As this was the
third round since entering the place, I was anxious to get away, and
summoning Forrest, we started for our horses. We had left them at a barn
on a back street, but before reaching the livery, Quince concluded that
he needed a few more cartridges. I had ordered a hundred the day before
for my own personal use, but they had been sent out with the supplies
and were then in camp. My own belt was filled with ammunition, but on
Forrest buying fifty, I took an equal number, and after starting out of
the store, both turned back and doubled our purchases. On arriving at
the stable, whom should I meet but the Wyoming cowman who had left us at
Grinnell. During the few minutes in which I was compelled to listen to
his troubles, he informed me that on his arrival at Ogalalla, all the
surplus cow-hands had been engaged by a man named Tolleston for the
Yellowstone country. He had sent to his ranch, however, for an outfit
who would arrive that evening, and he expected to start his herd the
next morning. But without wasting any words, Forrest and I swung into
our saddles, waved a farewell to the wayfaring acquaintance, and rode
around to the White Elephant. The sheriff and quite a cavalcade of our
boys had already started, and on reaching the street which terminated
in the only road leading to the North Fork, we were halted by Flood to
await the arrival of the others. Jim Reed and my employer were still
behind, and some little time was lost before they came up, sufficient to
give the sheriff a full half-mile start. But under the leadership of
the two drovers, we shook out our horses, and the advance cavalcade were
soon overtaken.

"Well, Mr. Sheriff," said old man Don, as he reined in beside Phillips,
"how do you like the looks of this for a posse? I'll vouch that they're
all good cow-hands, and if you want to deputiz