the outlet-第15章

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of　Archie；　when　he　stopped　me　and　asked　what　his　special　weaknesses　were；　if　he　had　any。　〃Whiskey　and　women；〃　I　replied。　〃That's　good；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　want　you　to　send　me　in　one　of　your　best　men　in　the　morningI　mean　one　who　will　drink　and　carouse。　He　can　watch　the　trains；　and　if　this　fellow　shows　up；　we'll　keep　him　soaked　and　let　him　enjoy　himself。　Send　me　one　that's　good　for　a　ten　days'　protracted　drunk。　You　think　the　other　herds　will　he　here　within　a　few　days？　That's　all　I　want　to　know。〃

I　reached　camp　a　little　before　dark；　and　learned　that　Bob's　herd　had　dropped　in　just　below　us　on　the　Mulberry。　He　expected　to　lie　over　a　few　days　in　passing　Dodge；　and　I　lost　no　time　in　preparing　to　visit　his　camp。　While　riding　out　that　evening；　I　had　made　up　my　mind　to　send　in　Dorg　Seay；　as　he　was　a　heady　fellow；　and　in　drinking　had　an　oak…tan　stomach。　Taking　him　with　me；　I　rode　down　the　Mulberry　and　reached　the　lower　camp　just　as　my　brother　and　his　outfit　were　returning　from　bedding…down　the　cattle。　Bob　readily　agreed　that　the　detective's　plans　were　perfectly　feasible；　and　offered　to　play　a　close　second　to　Seay　if　it　was　necessary。　And　if　his　own　brother　does　say　so；　Bob　Quirk　never　met　the　man　who　could　drink　him　under　the　table。

My　herd　started　early　for　the　Saw　Log；　and　the　wagon　for　town。　Bob　had　agreed　to　go　into　Dodge　in　the　morning；　so　Dorg　stayed　with　our　outfit　and　was　to　go　in　with　me　after　crossing　the　river。　We　threaded　our　way　through　the　other　herds；　and　shortly　before　noon　made　an　easy　ford　about　a　mile　below　old　Fort　Dodge。　As　we　came　down　to　the　river；　a　carriage　was　seen　on　the　farther　bank；　and　I　dropped　from　the　point　back　to　the　drag　end。　Sure　enough；　as　we　trailed　out；　the　fiscal　agent　and　the　buyers　were　awaiting　me。　〃Well；　Mac；　I　sold　your　herd　last　night　after　you　left；〃　said　Siringo；　dejectedly。　〃It　was　a　kind　of　compromise　trade；　they　raised　the　cash　payment　to　thirty　thousand　dollars；　and　I　split　the　difference　in　price。　The　herd　goes　at　29　a　head　all　round。　So　from　now　on；　Mac；　you're　subject　to　these　gentlemen's　orders。〃

Mr。　Field；　the　elder　of　the　two　buyers；　suggested　that　if　a　convenient　camp　could　be　found；　we　should　lie　over　a　few　days；　when　final　instructions　would　be　given　me。　He　made　a　memorandum　of　the　number　of　head　that　I　claimed　in　our　road　brand；　and　asked　me　if　we　could　hold　up　the　herd　for　a　closer　inspection。　The　lead　cattle　were　then　nearly　a　mile　away；　and　galloping　off　to　overtake　the　point；　I　left　the　party　watching　the　saddle　horses；　which　were　then　fording　in　our　rear。　But　no　sooner　had　I　reached　the　lead　and　held　up　the　herd；　than　I　noticed　Siringo　on　the　wrangler's　horse；　coming　up　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　column　of　cattle　from　the　vehicle。　Supposing　he　had　something　of　a　private　nature　to　communicate；　I　leisurely　rode　down　the　line　and　met　him。

〃Did　you　send　that　man　in　this　morning？〃　he　sternly　demanded。　I　explained　that　my　brother　had　done；　properly　coached；　and　that　Seay　would　go　in　with　me　in　the　course　of　an　hour。

〃Give　him　any　money　you　have　and　send　him　at　once；〃　commanded　the　detective。　〃Tolleston　was　due　on　the　ten　o'clock　train；　but　it　was　an　hour　late。　Those　buyers　wanted　me　to　wait　for　it；　so　he　could　come　along；　but　I　urged　the　importance　of　catching　you　at　the　ford。　Now；　send　your　man　Seay　at　once；　get　Tolleston　beastly　drunk；　and　quarter　him　in　some　crib　until　night。〃

Unobserved　by　the　buyers；　I　signaled　Seay；　and　gave　him　the　particulars　and　what　money　I　had。　He　rode　back　through　the　saddle　stock；　recrossed　the　river；　and　after　rounding　the　bend；　galloped　away。　Siringo　continued：　〃You　see；　after　we　traded；　they　inquired　if　you　were　a　safe　man；　saying　if　you　didn't　know　the　Yellowstone　country；　they　had　a　man　in　sight　who　did。　That　was　last　night；　and　it　seems　that　this　morning　they　got　a　letter　from　Tolleston；　saying　he　would　be　there　on　the　next　train。　They're　either　struck　on　him；　or　else　he's　in　their　employ。　Mark　my　words。〃

When　we　had　showed　the　herd　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　purchasers；　they　expressed　themselves　as　anxious　to　return　to　town；　but　the　fiscal　agent　of　the　Marshall　estate　wished　to　look　over　the　saddle　horses　first。　Since　they　were　unsold；　and　amounted　to　quite　an　item；　he　begged　for　just　a　few　minutes'　time　to　look　them　over　carefully。　Who　could　refuse　such　a　reasonable　request？　The　herd　had　started　on　for　the　Saw　Log；　while　the　remuda　had　wandered　down　the　river　about　half　a　mile；　and　it　took　us　nearly　an　hour　to　give　them　a　thorough　inspection。　Once　by　ourselves；　the　detective　said；　with　a　chuckle：　〃All　I　was　playing　for　was　to　get　as　large　a　cash　payment　as　possible。　Those　mixed　brands　were　my　excuse　for　the　money；　the　Marshall　estate　might　wait　for　theirs；　but　the　small　ranchmen　would　insist　on　an　immediate　settlement　the　moment　the　cattle　were　reported　sold。　If　it　wasn't　for　this　fellow　Tolleston；　I'd　sell　the　other　two　Buford　herds　the　day　they　arrive；　and　then　we　could　give　The　Western　Supply　Company　the　laugh。　And　say；　when　they　drew　me　a　draft　for　thirty　thousand　dollars　on　a　Washington　City　bank；　I　never　let　the　ink　dry　on　it　until　I　took　it　around　to　Wright；　Beverly　&　Co。；　and　had　them　wire　its　acceptance。　We'll　give　Seay　plenty　of　time；　and　I　think　there'll　be　an　answer　on　the　check　when　we　get　back　to　town。〃



CHAPTER　VIII。　EN　PASSANT

It　was　intentionally　late　in　the　day　when　we　reached　Dodge。　My　horse；　which　I　was　leading；　gave　considerable　trouble　while　returning；　compelling　us　to　drive　slow。　The　buyers　repeatedly　complained　that　dinner　would　be　over　at　their　hotel；　but　the　detective　knew　of　a　good　restaurant　and　promised　all　of　us　a　feast。　On　reaching　town；　we　drove　to　the　stable　where　the　rig　belonged；　and　once　free　of　the　horses；　Siringo　led　the　way　to　a　well…known　night…and…day　eating…house　on　a　back　street。　No　sooner　had　we　entered　the　place　than　I　remembered　having　my　wagon　in　town；　and　the　necessity　of　its　reaching　camp　before　darkness　made　my　excuse　imperative。　I　hurried　around　to　the　outfitting　house　and　found　the　order　filled　and　all　ready　to　load　into　the　wagon。　But　Parent　was　missing；　and　in　skirmishing　about　to　locate　him；　I　met　my　brother　Bob。　Tolleston　had　arrived；　but　his　presence　had　not　been　discovered　until　after　Seay　reached　town。　Archie　was　fairly　well　〃organized〃　and　had　visited　the　hotel　where　the　buyers　were　stopping；　leaving　word　for　them　of　his　arrival。　My　brother　and　Seay　had　told　him　that　they　had　met；　down　the　trail　that　morning；　two　cattle　buyers　by　the　name　of　Field　and　Radcliff；　that　they　were　inquiring　for　a　herd　belonging　to　Tom　Coleman；　which　was　believed　to　be　somewhere　between　Dodge　and　the　Cimarron　River。　The　two　had　assured　Tolleston　that　the　buyers　might　not　be　back　for　a　week；　and　suggested　a　few　drinks　in　memory　of　old　times。　As　Archie　was　then　three　sheets　in　the　wind；　his　effacement；　in　the　hands　of　two　rounders　like　Dorg　Seay　and　Bob　Quirk；　was　an　easy　matter。

Once　the　wagon　was　loaded　and　started　for　camp；　I　returned　to　the　restaurant。　The　dinner　was　in　progress；　and　taking　the　vacant　scat；　I　lifted　my　glass　with　great　regularity　as　toast　after　toast　was　drunk。　Cigars　were　ordered；　and　with　our　feet　on　the　table；　the　fiscal　agent　said：　〃Gentlemen；　this　is　a　mere　luncheon　and　don't　count。　But　if　I'm　able　to　sell　you　my　other　two　beef　herds；　why；　I'll　give　you　a　blow…out　right。　We'll　make　it　six…handed　…the　three　trail　foremen　and　ourselvesand　damn　the　expense　so　long　as　the　cattle　are　sold。　Champagne　will　flow　like　water；　and　when　our　teeth　float；　we'll　wash　our　feet　in　what's　left。〃

At　a　late　hour　the　dinner　ended。　We　were　all　rather　unsteady　on　our　feet；　but　the　pock…marked　detective　and　myself　formed　a　guard　of　honor　in　escorting　the　buyers　to　their　hotel；　when　an　officious　clerk　attempted　to　deliver　Tolleston's　message。　But　anticipating　it；　I　interrupted　his　highness　and　informed　him　that　we　had　met　the　party；　I　was　a　thousand　times　obliged　to　him　for　his　kindness；　and　forced　on　him　a　fine　cigar；　which　had　been　given　me　by　Bob　Wright　of　the　outfitting　store。　While　Siringo　and　the　buyers　passed　upstairs；　I　entertained　the　office　force　below　with　an　account　of　the　sale　of　my　herd；　constantly　referring　to　my　new　employers。　The　fiscal　agent　returned　shortly；　bought　some　cigars　at　the　counter；　asked　if　he　could　get　a　room　for　the　night；　in　case　he　was　detained　in　town；　and　then　we　passed　out　of　the　hotel。　This　afforded　me　the　first　opportunity　to　notify　Siringo　of　the　presence　of　Tolleston；　and　I　withheld　nothing　which　was　to　his　interest　to　know。　But　he　was　impatient　to　learn　if　the　draft　had　been　accepted；　and　asking　me　to　bring　my　brother　to　his　room　within　half　an　hour；　he　left　me。

It　was　growing　late　in　the　day。　The　sun　had　already　set　when　I　found　my　brother；　who　was　anxious　to　return　to　his　camp　for　the　night。　But　I　urged　his　seeing　Siringo　first；　and　after　waiting　in　the　latter's　room　some　time；　he　burst　in　upon　us　with　a　merry　chuckle。　〃Well；　the　draft　was　paid　all　right；〃　said　he　；　〃and　this　is　Bob　Quirk。　Boys；　things　are　coming　nicely。　This　fellow　Tolleston　is　the　only　cloud　in　the　sky。　If　we　can　keep　him　down　for　a　week；　and　the　other　herds　come　in　shortly；　I　see　nothing　to　thwart　our　plans。　Where　have　you　picketed　Tolleston？〃　〃Around　in　Dutch　Jake's　crib；〃　replied　Bob。

〃That's　good；〃　continued　the　fiscal　agent；　〃and　I'll　just　drop　in　to…night　and　see　the　madam。　A　little　money　will　go　a　long　way　with　her；　and　in　a　case　like　this；　the　devil　himself　would　be　a　welcome　ally。　You　boys　stay　in　town　as　much　as　you　can　and　keep　Tolleston　snowed　deep；　and　I'll　take　the　buyers　down　the　trail　in　the　morning　and　meet　the　herds　coming　up。〃

My　brother　returned　to　his　camp；　and　Siringo　and　I　separated　for　the　time　being。　In　'84　Dodge；　the　Port　Said　of　the　plains；　was　in　the　full　flower　of　her　wickedness。　Literally　speaking；　night　was　turned　into　day　in　the　old　trail　town；　for　with　the　falling　of　darkness；　the　streets　filled　with　people。　Restaurants　were　crowded　with　women　of　the　half…world；　bar…rooms　thronged　with　the　wayfaring　man；　while　in　gambling　and　dance　halls　the　range　men　congregated　as　if　on　special　invitation。　The　familiar　bark　of　the　six…shooter　was　a　matter　of　almost　nightly　occurrence；　a　dispute　at　the　gaming　table；　a　discourteous　word　spoken；　or　the　rivalry　for　the　smile　of　a　wanton　was　provocation　for　the　sacrifice　of　human　life。　Here　the　man　of　the　plains　reverted　to　and　gave　utterance　to　the　savagery　of　his　nature；　or；　on　the　other　hand；　was　as　chivalrous　as　in　the　days　of　heraldry。

I　knew　the　town　well；　this　being　my　third　trip　over　the　trail；　and　mingled　with　the　gathering　throng。　Near　midnight；　and　when　in　the　Lady　Gay　dance…hall；　I　was　accosted　by　Dorg　Seay　and　the　detective。　They　had　just　left　Dutch　Jake's；　and　reported　all　quiet　on　the　Potomac。　Seay　had　not　only　proved　himself　artful；　but　a　good　fellow；　and　had　unearthed　the　fact　that　Tolleston　had　been　in　the　employ　of　Field　and　Radcliff　for　the　past　three　months。　〃You　see；〃　said　Dorg；　〃Archie　never　knew　me　except　the　few　days　that　I　was　about　headquarters　in　Medina　before　we　started。　He　fully　believes　that　I've　been　dischargedand　with　three　months'　pay　in　my　hip…pocket。　The　play　now　is　that　he's　to　first　help　me　spend　my　wages；　and　then　I'm　to　have　a　job　under　him　with　beeves　which　he　ex