He would have said that Bud did not have the "earmarks" of an Idaho rider.

Furthermore, the small Tomahawk brand on the left flank of the horse Bud rode was totally unknown to Bart.

Yet the horse did not bear the marks of long riding.
Bud himself looked as if he had just ridden out from some nearby ranch--and he had refused to say where he was from.
Bart swore under his breath and beckoned to him a droopy-mustached, droopy-shouldered rider who was circling the herd in a droopy, spiritless manner and chewing tobacco with much industry.
"Dirk, you know brands from the Panhandle to Cypress Hills.

What d' yuh make of that horse?
Where does he come from ?" Bart stopped abruptly and rode forward then to receive and drive farther back a galloping AJBar cow which Bud and Stopper had just hazed out of the herd.

Dirk squinted at Stopper's brand which showed cleanly in the glossy, new hair of early summer.