der.

Meanwhile the two deputies in charge failed to materialize, and on
inquiry they were reported as out at the herd with Tolleston. The
foreman accompanied us to the cattle, and while on the way he informed
the sheriff that he wished to count the beeves over to him and take a
receipt for the same. Phillips hesitated, as he was no cowman, but Reed
spoke up and insisted that it was fair and just, saying: "Of course,
you'll count the cattle and give him a receipt in numbers, ages, and
brands. It's not this young man's fault that his herd must undergo all
this trouble, and when he turns them over to an officer of the law he
ought to have something to show for it. Any of Lovell's foremen here
will count them to a hair for you, and Don and I will witness the
receipt, which will make it good among cowmen."

Without loss of time the herd was started east. Tolleston kept well
out of reach of my employer, and besought every one to know what this
movement meant. But when the trail boss and Jim Flood rode out to a
swell of ground ahead, and the point-men began filing the column through
between the two foremen, Archie was sagacious enough to know that the
count meant something serious. In the mean time Bob Quirk had favored
Tolleston with his company, and when the count was nearly half over,
my brother quietly informed him that the sheriff was taking possession.
Once the atmosphere cleared, Archie grew uneasy and restless, and as the
last few hundred beeves were passing the counters, he suddenly concluded
to return to Ogalalla. But my brother urged him not to think of going
until he had met his former employer, assuring Tolleston that the old
man had made inquiry about and was anxious to meet him. The latter,
however, could not remember anything of urgent importance between them,
and pleaded the lateness of the hour and the necessity of his immediate
return to town. The more urgent Bob Quirk became, the more fidgety
grew Archie. The last of the cattle were passing the count as Tolleston
turned away from my brother's entreaty, and giving his horse the rowel,
started off on a gallop. But there was a scattering field of horsemen
to pass, and before the parting guest could clear it, a half-dozen ropes
circled in the air and deftly settled over his horse's neck and himself,
one of which pinioned his arms. The boys were expecting something of
this nature, and fully half the men in Lovell's employ galloped up and
formed a circle around