And yet he
hesitated, for he did not wish to force trouble.
"How many Bar X cattle do you think are in the herd?" he asked.
"Mebbe a hundred--mebbe more."
"How long will it take you to get Bill Lester here to prove his stock?"
The big man laughed. "That's a question. Bill left last night for
Frisco; I reckon mebbe he'll be gone a month--mebbe more."
The color surged back into Sanderson's face. He stiffened.
"An' you expect to hold my herd here until Lester gets back?" he said,
slowly.
"Yep," said the other, shortly.
"You can't do it!" declared Sanderson. "I know the law, an' you can't
hold a man's cattle that long without becomin' liable for damages."
"We'll be liable," grinned the sheriff. "Before Bill left last night
he made out a bond for ninety thousand dollars--just what your cattle
are worth at the market price. If there's any damages comin' to you
you'll get them out of that."
"It's a frame-up," growled Carter, at Sanderson's side. "It proves
itself. This guy, Lester, makes out a bond before we're within two
days' drive of his bailiwick.
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