idea. "We'll put a spoke in Pludding's wheel—if he is the rival cattle dealer."
Arriving at the Parker cottage, Dave and Roger leaped down in the snow and knocked on the door. A heavy-set and rather pleasant-looking man answered their summons.
"Is this Mr. Joseph Parker?" asked Dave.
"That's my handle, lad. What can I do for you? Will you come in?"
"No, Mr. Parker—I haven't time. I wanted to ask you, do you know a Mr. Isaac Pludding?"
At this question the brow of Joe Parker darkened.
"I certainly do."
"He is working for some opposition in the cattle line, isn't he?"
"Yes, and trying his best to do me out of my little income," was the grumbled-out answer.
"Well, I thought I might do you a favor," went on Dave, and then told of his meeting with the cattle agent, and of how Pludding was trying to reach Oakdale without delay.
"Is that possible!" cried Joseph Parker. "If it is, I'll have to get a hustle on me, I'm thinking. I told Farrington I'd let him know about those cattle to-day or to-morrow. I'll go right over and close the deal now—before Pludding gets here. It's Farrington's cattle he is after. I am very much obliged to you."
