s to attain an end。 This is one of them。 Within a week after my client had given bonds for the fulfillment of his contract； he made the discovery that he was dealing with a double…faced set of scoundrels。 From that day until the present moment； secret…service men have shadowed every action of the plaintiffs。 My client has anticipated their every move。 When beeves broke in price from five to seven dollars a head； Honest John； here； made his boasts in Washington City over a champagne supper that he and his associates would clear one hundred thousand dollars on their Buford contract。 Let us reason together how this could be done。 The Western Supply Company refused； even when offered a bonus； to assign their contract to my client。 But they were perfectly willing to transfer it； from themselves as contract for the delivery of the beeves。 The original corporation； to themselves as individuals； even though they had previously given Don Lovell a similar award was made seven months ago； and the depreciation in cattle since is the secret of why the frog eat the cabbage。 My client is under the necessity of tendering his cattle on the day of delivery； and proposes to hold this earnest…money to indemnify himself in case of an adverse decision at Fort Buford。 It is the only thing he can do； as The Western Supply Company is execution proof； its assets consisting of some stud…horse office furniture and a corporate seal。 On the other hand； Don Lovell is rated at half a million； mostly in pasture lands； is a citizen of Medina County； Texas； and if these gentlemen have any grievance； let them go there and sue him。 A judgment against my client is good。 Now； your honor； you have our side of the question。 To be brief； shall these old Wisinsteins come out here from Washington City and dispossess any man of his property？ There is but one answer not in the Republic of Keith。〃
All three of the plaintiffs took the stand； their testimony supporting the complaint； Lovell's attorney refusing even to cross…examine any one of them。 When they rested their case Sutton arose； and scanning the audience for some time； inquired； 〃Is Jim Reed there？〃 In response； a tall； one…armed man worked his way from the outer gallery through the crowd and advanced to the rail。 I knew Reed by sight only； my middle brother having made several trips with his trail cattle； but he was known to every one by reputation。 He had lost an arm in the Confederate service； and was recognized by the gambling fraternity as the gamest man among all the trail drovers； while every cowman from the Rio Grande to the Yellowstone knew him as a poker…player。 Reed was asked to take the stand； and when questioned if he knew either of the plaintiffs； said：
〃Yes； I know that fat gentleman； and I'm powerful glad to meet up with him again；〃 replied the witness； designating Honest John。 〃That man is so crooked that he can't sleep in a bed； and it's one of the wonders of this country that he hasn't stretched hemp before this。 I made his acquaintance as manager of The Federal Supply Company； and delivered three thousand cows to him at the Washita Indian Agency last fall。 In the final settlement； he drew on three different banks； and one draft of twenty…eight thousand dollars came back； indorsed； DRAWEE UNKNOWN。 I had other herds on the trail to look after； and it was a month before I found out that the check was bogus； by which time Honest John had sailed for Europe。 There was nothing could be done hut put mny claim into a judgment and lay for him。 But I've got a grapevine twist on him now； for no sooner did he buy a herd here last week than Mr。 Sutton transferred the judgment to this jurisdiction； and his cattle will be attached this afternoon。 I've been on his trail for nearly a year； but he'll come to me now； and before he can move his beeves out of this county； the last cent must come； with interest； attorney's fees； detective bills； and remuneration for my own time and trouble。 That's the reason that I'm so glad to meet him。 Judge； I've gone to the trouble and expense to get his record for the last ten years。 He's so snaky he sheds his name yearly； shifting for a nickname from Honest John to The Quaker。 In '80 he and his associates did business under the name of The Army & Sutler Supply Company； and I know of two judgments that can be bought very reasonable against that corporation。 His record would convince any one that he despises to make an honest dollar。〃
The older of the two attorneys for the plaintiffs asked a few questions； but the replies were so unsatisfactory to their side； that they soon passed the witness。 During the cross…questioning； however； the sheriff had approached the judge and whispered something to his honor。 As there were no further witnesses to be examined； the local attorneys insisted on arguing the case； but Judge Mulqueen frowned them down； saying：
〃This court sees no occasion for any argument in the present case。 You might spout until you were black in the face and it wouldn't change my opinion any； besides I've got twenty cars to send and a train of cattle to load out this evening。 This court refuses to interfere with the herds in question； at present the property of and in possession of Don Lovell； who； together with his men； are discharged from custody。 If you're in town to…night； Mr。 Reed； drop into the Lone Star。 Couple of nice monte games running there； hundred…dollar limit； and if you feel lucky； there's a nice bank roll behind them。 Adjourn court； Mr。 Sheriff。〃
CHAPTER XIV。 TURNING THE TABLES
〃Keep away from me； you common cow…hands；〃 said Sponsilier； as a group of us waited for him at the foot of the court…house stairs。 But Dave's gravity soon turned to a smile as he continued： 〃Did you fellows notice The Rebel and me sitting inside the rail among all the big augers？ Paul； was it a dream； or did we sleep in a bed last night and have a sure…enough pillow under our heads？ My memory is kind of hazy to…day； but I remember the drinks and the cigars all right； and saying to some one that this luck was too good to last。 And here we are turned out in the cold world again； our fun all over； and now must go tack to those measly cattle。 But it's just what I expected。〃
The crowd dispersed quietly； though the sheriff took the precaution to accompany the plaintiffs and Tolleston back to their hotel。 The absence of the two deputies whom we had met the day before was explained by the testimony of the one…armed cowman。 When the two drovers came downstairs； they were talking very confidentially together； and on my employer noticing the large number of his men present； he gave orders for them to meet him at once at the White Elephant saloon。 Those who had horses at hand mounted and dashed down the street； while the rest of us took it leisurely around to the appointed rendezvous； some three blocks distant。 While on the way； I learned from The Rebel that the cattle on which the attachment was to be made that afternoon were then being held well up the North Fork。 Sheriff Phillips joined us shortly after we entered the saloon； and informed my employer and Mr。 Reed that the firm of Field； Radcliff & Co。 had declared war。 They had even denounced him and the sheriff's office as being in collusion against them； and had dispatched Tolleston with orders to refuse service。
〃Let them get on the prod all they want to；〃 said Don Lovell to Reed and the sheriff。 〃I've got ninety men here； and you fellows are welcome to half of them； even if I have to go out and stand a watch on night…herd myself。 Reed； we can't afford to have our busiuess ruined by such a set of sconndrels； and we might as well fight it out here and now。 Look at the situation I'm in。 A hundred thousand dollars wouldn't indemnify me in having my cattle refused as late as the middle of September at Fort Buford。 And believing that I will be turned down； under my contract； so Sutton says； 1 must tender my beeves on the appointed day of delivery； which will absolve my bondsmen and me from all liability。 A man can't trifle with the governmentthe cattle must be there。 Now in my ease； Jim； what would you do？〃
〃That's a hard question； Don。 You see we're strangers up in this Northwest country。 Now； if it was home in Texas； there would be only one thing to do。 Of course I'm no longer handy with a shotgun； but you've got two good arms。〃
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 said the sheriff； 〃you must excuse me for interrupting； but if my deputies are to take possession of that herd this afternoon； I must saddle up and go to the front。 If Honest John and associates try to stand up any bluffs on my office； they'll only run on the rope once。 I'm much obliged to you； Mr。 Lovell； for the assurance of any help 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