The head herder indignantly denied that he had
included any outside cattle, and his story was corroborated by the
others.
"I can leave it to Bill Parker, Mr. Hooper's man," said Todd. "He was
there. If Merwell didn't want to take our word, why didn't he send a man
down? We notified him that we was going to make a shipment."
"Have the steers been shipped yet?"
"No--not till to-morrow."
"Then ride down to the yard and have Harrison go over them and write out
a declaration that they are all ours," added the ranch owner.
"It's a good deal of work," grumbled the cowboy.
"I know it, but I'll pay Harrison. With a declaration from Harrison, Mr.
Merwell will have no claim."
The ranch owner's orders were carried out, and the next day a duplicate
of the stockyard man's declaration,--that the cattle were all of the
Star Ranch brand,--was delivered to Mr. Merwell.
"Huh! needn't tell me!" he sniffed, after reading the paper. "I guess
Harrison is playing into Endicott's hands."
"You tell Harrison that--if you dare," answered the messenger, who had
delivered the paper. Harrison was known to be a fair and square but
high-tempered individual, and one who could shoot, and shoot straight.
"Oh, I--er--I didn't mean--er--anything against Harrison," answered
Felix Merwell, hastily.
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