d a thousand more cattle to your
herd, and we know that you need more cowboys. We are all trained
ranchmen and cowboys, and understand the business from A to Z. Just set
us to work at once, and there'll be no more cattle thieving around here,
for we know just how to deal with them."

Fred did not like the looks of any one in the party. Their faces showed
plainly that they were certainly devotees of the jug, so he said:

"Gentlemen, of course we will need more cowboys, for it is our intention
to add still another thousand head of cattle to our herd; but we really
can't employ another man until we first investigate his former life. We
don't want any man in our employ who drinks whisky. Neither Mr. Olcott
nor myself ever touch the stuff, and I never took a drink of anything
intoxicating in my life, so I don't want any one around me who does."

"Well," said the big fellow, "I never was drunk in my life, I have taken
whisky moderately whenever I felt like it ever since I was of age, so if
you give me a job I'll agree never to take a drink as long as I am on
the place."

But Fred could see from his eyes and face that the man was not telling
the truth.

He said that if Fred would write to certain ranchmen further up the road
where he had worked that he would find out that he was as good a
ranchman as could be found anywhere in the State; but Fred shook his
head and remarked that he would take his time, and that he and Olcott
would act as cowboys themselves until they had selected others to do the
work for them.

About three hours later a cowboy arrived in the conductor's cab, on the
rear end of a freight train, and going to the little store, inquired for
Fearnot.

There were four cowboys in the store at the time, and they could see
from his dress and style that the newcomer was a cowboy, too.

The storekeeper went out on the porch and caught a glimpse of Fred over
at the barn lot. He gave a halloo, which attracted Fred's attention, and
then he beckoned to him. Fred at once started for the store, but the
newcomer, who had followed the storekeeper out on the piazza, saw him
and said:

"Thank you, boss; I know him. I used to work for him up in Colorado, and
he is one of the best men that ever breathed."

When Fred was within one hundred yards of the store, he recognized the
cowboy, and called to him:

"Hello, Tom!" and the newcomer returned his greeting.

When Fred reached the store, the two shook hands heartily.