They're jest plain town thieves an'
gamblers. They ain't cow-punchers. It gen'rally is fellers what has been
in ther cow business at some time er another what rustles stock."
"Oh, it doesn't take much of a man to steal cattle. A thieving gambler
could do it as well as another."
"But our brand and ear crop? They shore couldn't get away from them."
"They're not so hard, Bud. A good man could run our stock out of this
part of the country and alter the brand without any trouble."
"Shore, ther brand is not so hard to alter."
"Let's ride back to camp and look at the brand book, and see if any one
has a similar brand to ours, or one that they could alter without
trouble. But, remember, I'm not going to give myself any uneasiness in
the matter, and I think we will find the herd all there. I can't see how
so many cattle as you think could get away from us."
"I do."
"In what manner could they?"
"Well, yer see, thar ain't ary o' us fellers been ridin' herd at night
since Stella was taken away."
"Yes; go on.
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