Brick accepted one, lit and discarded it in a moment for a cigaret. “What’s on your mind?” queried Barney. “You use a lot of meat don’tcha, Barney?” “Darned right we do. You can’t feed a crew like we’ve got and not use a lot of fresh meat.” “Who do yuh buy from?” “Hm-m-m.” Barney frowned thoughtfully, reached for a book and skipped through the pages. “Here it is—Mostano; J. Mostano. I think they call him Joe.” “Joe Mostano, eh? He’s that ’breed back on Lick Creek. Bought out that old Hopper ranch, didn’t he? Brands with a big H. Covers half the animal.” “I don’t know,” replied Barney. “Art Fields runs the commissary and takes care of the buying. You got some beef to sell, Brick?” Brick shook his head and got to his feet. “I wonder if I could have a little talk with Fields?” “Sure thing. He’s in that big building on the other side of the cook-shack. You know him?” “Nope, but I can find him.” “I’ll go with you.” Barney got his hat and they walked to the commissary building. Hank Stagg and Leach were talking to several men near the bunk-house. Leach said something to the men, which caused them to laugh. Art Fields was a little, fat man, with an almost totally bald head and a serious face. He shook hands with Brick and waited for him to state his business. “Yes, we buy from Mostano,” he said, in answer to Brick’s question. “He has been supplying us with beef for several months. It is cheaper than having it freighted in. Mostano packs it in on his horses. His ranch is only about six miles from here, I think.” “Is it good meat?” “Fine.” “Does he bring the hides with it?” asked Brick. “The hides? Why, I don’t think so. We don’t buy hides.” “Sure yuh don’t,” grinned Brick, “but it’s a law, Fields. When yuh sell meat that-a-way you’ve got to show the hide.” “Oh-h-h, I get the idea.” Fields looked very wise. “I never thought of that, sheriff. Why, sure, it would be easy to kill somebody’s cattle and sell ’em to us. I don’t know whether Mostano knows about this or not, but I’ll see that he does. Next time he shows up, he better have the hide.” “Has somebody been killing cattle?” asked Barney softly. “I don’t think so,” smiled Brick. “I got to thinkin’ about you havin’ to buy so much meat, and I thought yuh ought to know what the law was. It might save yuh trouble.” “That’s right,” agreed Barney. “We want to stay inside the law, you bet.” “I guess that Mostano is all right,” said Fields. “He seems to be a pretty good ’breed, and he is sure prompt on delivery. He will bring in a load tomorrow some time.” “Well, I’m much obliged,” smiled Brick. “See yuh later.” “Come any old time.” Brick and Barney walked back toward the office, and met Hank and Sam Leach, who were coming toward the commissary. “Land any converts?” asked Brick. “Got a lot of promises,” grinned Hank drunkenly. “Thish here polit’cal business is hard on the stummick.” “Aw, come on!” snorted Leach. “Foller papa,” laughed Brick.