the outlet-第20节
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e quiet； languid old Jun。 The various foremen and their outfits were aware of the impending trouble over the Buford delivery； and quietly expressed their contempt for such underhand dealings。 Quince Forrest had spent the evening before in town； and about midnight his herd of 〃Drooping T's〃 were sold at about the same figures as mine； except five thousand more earnest…money； and the privilege of the buyers placing their own foreman in charge thereafter。 Forrest further reported that the fiscal agent and the strangers had started to meet Sponsilier early that morning； and that the probability of all the herds moving out in a few days was good。
Seay and his charge were still absent； and the programme； as outlined； was working out nicely。 With the exception of Forrest and myself； the other foremen were busy looking after their outfits； while Bob Quirk had his wagon to load and start on its return。 Quince confided to me that though he had stayed on Duck Creek the night before； his herd would noon that day on Saw Log； and camp that evening on the next creek north。 When pressed for his reasons； he shrugged his shoulders； and with a quiet wink； said： 〃If this new outfit put a man over me； just the minute we get out of the jurisdiction of this county； off his horse he goes and walks back。 If it's Tolleston； the moment he sees me and recognizes my outfit as belonging to Lovell； he'll raise the long yell and let the cat out。 When that happens； I want to be in an unorganized country where a six…shooter is the highest authority。〃 The idea was a new one to me； and I saw the advantage of it； but could not move without Siringo's permission； which Forrest had。 Accordingly about noon； Quince summoned his men together； and they rode out of town。 Looking up a map of Ford County； I was delighted to find that my camp on Saw Log was but a few miles below the north line。
Among the boys the day passed in riotousness。 The carousing was a necessary stimulant after the long； monotonous drive and exposure to the elements。 Near the middle of the forenoon； Flood and The Rebel rounded up their outfits and started south for the Mulberry； while Bob Quirk gathered his own and my lads preparatory to leaving for the Saw Log。 I had agreed to remain on guard for that night； for with the erratic turn on Tolleston's part； we were doubly cautious。 But when my outfit was ready to start； Runt Pickett； the feisty little rascal； had about twenty dollars in his possession which he insisted on gambling away before leaving town。 Runt was comfortably drunk； and as Bob urged humoring him； I gave my consent； provided he would place it all at one bet； to which Pickett agreed。 Leaving the greater part of the boys holding the horses； some half…dozen of us entered the nearest gambling…house； and Runt bet nineteen dollars 〃Alec〃 on the first card which fell in a monte lay…out。 To my chagrin； he won。 My brother was delighted over the little rascal's luck； and urged him to double his bet； but Pickett refused and invited us all to have a drink。 Leaving this place； we entered the next gaming…hall； when our man again bet nineteen dollars alec on the first card。 Again he won； and we went the length of the street； Runt wagering nineteen dollars alec on the first card for ten consecutive times without losing a bet。 In his groggy condition； the prospect of losing Pickett's money was hopeless； and my brother and I promised him that he might come back the next morning and try to get rid of his winnings。
Two whole days passed with no report from either Seay or the buyers。 Meanwhile Flood and The Rebel threaded their way through the other herds； crossing the Arkansaw above town； their wagons touching at Dodge for new supplies； never halting except temporarily until they reached the creek on which Forrest was encamped。 The absence of Siringo and the buyers； to my thinking； was favorable； for no doubt when they came in； a deal would have been effected on the last of the Buford herds。 They returned some time during the night of the third day out； and I failed to see the detective before sunrise the next morning。 When I did meet him； everything 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； hut 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 cattlethey 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； hut 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； posted him as to the arrival with the wild look and blood…shot optics。 Siringo cautioned me to go to his room and stay there； promising to report as the day advanced。
Sponsilier had camped the night before on the main river； and as I crossed to the hotel； his commissary pulled up in front of Wright； Beverly & Co。's outfitting store。 Taking the chances of being seen； I interviewed Dave's cook； and learned that his foreman had given him an order for the supplies； and that Sponsilier would not come in until after the herd had passed the Saw Log。 As I turned away； my attention was attracted by the deference being shown the financial man of the cattle firm； as the party wended their way around to the Wright House。 The silent member of the firm was a portly fellow； and there was no one in the group but did him honor； even the detective carrying a light grip； while Tolleston lumbered along with a heavy one。
My effacement was only temporary； as Siringo appeared at his room shortly afterward。 〃Well； Quirk；〃 said he； with a smile； 〃I reckon my work is all done。 Field and Radcliff didn't feel like talking business this morning； at least until they had shown the financial member their purchases； both real and prospective。 Yes； they took the fat Colonel and Tolleston with them and started for your camp with a two…seated rig。 From yours they expect to drive to Forrest's camp； and then meet Sponsilier on the way coming back。 No； I declined a very pressing invitation to go alongyou see my mixed herds might come in any minute。 And say； that man Tolleston was there in a hundred places with the big conversation； he claims to have been kidnapped； and was locked up for the last four days。 He says he whipped your man Seay； but couldn't convince the authorities of his innocence until last night； when they set him free。 According to his report； Seay's in jail yet at a little town down the road called Kinsley。 Now； I'm going to take a conveyance to Spearville； and catch the first train out of there East。 Settle my bill with this hotel； and say that I may be out of town for a few days； meeting a herd which I'm expecting。 When Tolleston recognizes all three of those outfits as belonging to Don Lovellwell； won't there be hell to pay？ Yes； my work is all done。〃
I fully agreed with the detective that Archie would recognize the remudas and outfits as Lovell's； even though the cattle were road…branded out of the usual 〃Circle Dot。〃 Siringo further informed me that north of Ford County was all an unorganized country until the Platte River was reached at Ogalalla； and advised me to ignore any legal process served outside those bounds。 He was impatient to get away； and wh
