“I know the waddy. Came to town about three days ago. Don’t know where he sleeps, but he spends most of his time hanging around Duck Rimor’s.�
Teddy nodded.
“Stranger here. From up around Montana, most likely. So he was nasty, hey?�
“He wasn’t any too polite, from what I saw,� Roy broke in.
Mr. Manley looked over at Teddy. The boy was staring intently at the door through which the puncher had disappeared.
“We have got to get busy,� the cattle owner said in a loud voice. Of a sudden his face darkened. Deliberately he tapped the tobacco out from his pipe by knocking the bowl against the palm of his hand. Then he placed the pipe in his pocket.
“We have got to get busy,� he repeated in a quieter tone, “an’ quick. General has been stolen. Flash an’ Star along with him. We’re goin’ after the man that took ’em an’ get our hosses back.� He turned and walked swiftly to the other side of the street, where the two girls had been silently watching the scene.
“I’m thinking that whoever stole your dad’s hoss made a poor bargain,� Foley said to Roy. “I know Bardwell. I saw him look like that before, when back in ninety-eight Slag Wallace shot a dog your dad owned. Slag ain’t around now. Yep, the waddy who picked up General is going to be mighty sorry.�
Roy and Teddy followed their father without a word, leaving Foley standing in the street, rubbing his bald spot with a puzzled air.
Nell Willis and Ethel Carew were waiting, eyes full of questions. Nell started the attack.