, but
had not mentioned Panhandle's name in the telegram.

The following day, Senator Brown and his foreman, Lon Pelly, arrived in
Phoenix and had a long talk with the marshal. That afternoon Lon Pelly
took the train south. Early in the evening Senator Brown received a
telegram from Pelly stating that Sneed and four men had left Tucson,
headed north and riding horses.

The stolen horses had been trailed south as far as Phoenix. It was
evident that they had been driven to Tucson and disposed of somewhere in
that vicinity. Yet there was no conclusive proof that Sneed had stolen
the horses. As usual, he had managed to keep a few days ahead of his
pursuers. Sneed was known to have left his camp in the hills above San
Andreas. The first posse had found the camp abandoned. Sneed had not
been identified until Pelly got track of him in Tucson.

During his talk with Senator Brown the marshal mentioned the fact that
Panhandle Sears was in Phoenix.

"Did Panhandle come in from the south?" queried the Senator.

"Nobody seems to know."

"Well, if he did, we have got the link that's missing in this chain,
Colonel. Pelly is holdin' one end of the chain down in Tucson, and the
other end is layin' right here in Phoenix. If we can connect her up--"

"But we haven't located the horses, Senator."

"Colonel, I'll find those horses if I can. But I'm after Sneed, this
journey. He has been running things about ten years too long to suit me.
I've got a check-book with me. You have the men. I'm out to do a little
housecleanin' of my own. If we can get Panhandle to talk, we can find
out something."

"He's been on a drunk for a week. I could run him in for disturbing the
peace and--"

"And he'd suspect what we're after and freeze up, tight. No, let him run
loose, but keep your eye on him. He'll give the deal away, sooner or
later."

"I hope it's sooner," said the Colonel. "Cheyenne is holed up down the
street, waiting for a chance to get Sears. Cheyenne didn't say so, but
it was in his eye. He's changed considerable since I saw him last."

"Was there any one with him: a tall, dark-haired, kind of clean-cut boy,
for instance?"

"No, not when I saw him. He rode in with his usual outfit."

"Wonder where he lost young Bartley? Well, I'm glad the boy isn't here.
He might get hurt."

"Wild?"

"No. Quiet. Writes stories. He's out here to look at the West. Stayed at
the ranch a spell. Mrs. Brown likes him."

Colonel Stevenson nodded