They visited the offices of the commission merchants who dealt in horseflesh, and got their prices for the sort of stock the boys had to sell, and before the day was over they had disposed of six carloads of horses for immediate delivery.

While they were talking the deal over with the purchaser, they noticed that the man in the checked suit hovered around, and Ted purposely permitted him to overhear part of the conversation about the delivery of the ponies.

Ted then sent a telegram to Kit Summers, informing him of the sale, and telling him to select the sort of horses from the herds that were wanted, and to come through with them, bringing a sufficient number of the boys with him to protect the stock and deliver it.

When the operator took the message and began to send it, Ted noticed that the man with the checked suit was leaning against the wall, apparently not paying any attention to what was going on.  But Ted knew by the way he was holding his head that he was a telegraph operator also, and that he was reading the message as it went onto the wire.

“Say, Bud, we’ve had enough of that gentleman for one day, haven’t we?”

“I shore hev.”

“Then let’s give him the slip.”

“Easier said than done.  Thet thar feller sticks like a leech ter a black eye.”

“I think we can do it.”

“And how?”

“See that automobile over there?  In front of that office.”

“I see a long, low, rakish craft painted like an Eyetalian sunset.  If thet is yer means o’ communication with ther other side o’ ther river, oxcuse me.”

“Why, what’s the matter with that?  That’s a mighty fine car.”

“I reckon it is, but walkin’s good ernuf fer me.”

“But you’ll never walk away from that shadow.”

“I’ll bet I kin run erway from ‘his checkers’ before we’re halfway ter St. Looey, even if I am a cow-puncher, an’ muscle bound from straddlin’ a saddle fer so many years.”

“What’s the use, when we can run away from him in a gasoline wagon.  That machine is standing in front of the office of Truax & Wells, and they have sold a lot of cattle for us in times past.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the car belonged to one or the other of them, and that if we asked for a lift to the other side they would be glad to let us have it.”

“All right, if you’re so keen on it, tackle ’em.  You’ll find me game ter ride ther ole thing.  I’ve rid everything from a goat ter a huffier, an’ yer kin bet yer gold-plugged tooth I ain’t goin’ ter welsh fer no ole piece o’ machinery.”

They entered the office, and were at once greeted by an elderly man, Mr. Truax, in a warm manner.  After talking over things in general, Ted said: 

“That’s a fine car of yours out there, Mr. Truax.”

“Funny thing about that car,” said the commission merchant.  “That’s not my car, and nobody seems to know whose car it is.”