"Four in the stray herd," Limber replied, and without further
conversation they rode to the strays, where several neighbouring
ranchers and a few cowpunchers sat on their ponies. They looked
curiously at Traynor and his men, who met the looks steadily.
"Limber has just reported to me about these calves with the Diamond H
brand," he scanned each face for sign of disbelief. "I don't think it is
necessary for me to say that not one of the men belonging to the Diamond
H ranch branded those calves. A single instance might occur to any one,
as you all know, but this is being done systematically, and evidently
with the intention of causing hard feelings. If any of you hear or see
any more of this work, let me know at once, and help me find out who is
at the bottom of it. I'll pay five hundred dollars for proof against the
man who is putting my brand on these calves. I will report this to the
Live Stock Sanitary Board at once, and advertise my offer of reward."
He turned to Limber and Bronco, saying, "Cut out those calves and vent
them at once, boys," and they hastened to obey.
"None of us laid the blame on the Diamond H," said Jones, who owned the
Flying V Bar. "None of us knew about this work until Limber told us and
pointed out the calves in the stray herd. The fellow who is doing this
would treat any of us the same way, and it's things like this that start
real trouble. We've got to work together to catch him. When we do, we'll
run him out of the country."
"Better keep him in the country, under six feet of earth," growled Holy
with a few complimentary remarks, then he glanced around quickly to see
whether Nell were within earshot.
And as a result of this episode, a week later Traynor advertised
offering five hundred dollars reward for detection of the trouble-maker,
while an additional five hundred dollars was offered by the combined
other cattlemen whose calves had been misbranded; but from that time on
there was no cause for further complaint. The matter remained a
mystery.