, 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 seat, 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 ourselves--and 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
nothin