s own accord. The "Drooping T" cattle
were in the immediate rear under Forrest's segundo, and Splann urged me
to accompany him that forenoon, saying: "From what the boys said this
morning, Dave and Paul will not be given a hearing until two o'clock
this afternoon. I can graze beyond the North Fork by that time, and then
we'll all go back together. Flood's right behind here with the 'Drooping
T's,' and I think it's his intention to go all the way to the river.
Drop back and see him."

The boys who were with me never halted, but had ridden on towards town.
When the second herd began the ascent of the mesa, I left Splann and
turned back, waiting on the brink for its arrival. As it would take the
lead cattle some time to reach me, I dismounted, resting in the shade of
my horse. But my rest was brief, for the clattering hoofs of a cavalcade
of horsemen were approaching, and as I arose, Quince Forrest and Bob
Quirk with a dozen or more men dashed up and halted. As their herds were
intended for the Crow and Fort Washakie agencies, they would naturally
follow up the south side of the North Platte, and an hour or two of
grazing would put them in camp. The Buford cattle, as well as Flood's
herd, were due to cross this North Fork of the mother Platte within ten
miles of Ogalalla, their respective routes thenceforth being north and
northeast. Forrest, like myself, was somewhat leary of entering the
town, and my brother and the boys passed on shortly, leaving Quince
behind. We discussed every possible phase of what might happen in case
we were recognized, which was almost certain if Tolleston or the Dodge
buyers were encountered. But an overweening hunger to get into Ogalalla
was dominant in us, and under the excuse of settling for our supplies,
after the herd passed, we remounted our horses, Flood joining us, and
rode for the hamlet.

There was little external and no moral change in the town. Several new
saloons had opened, and in anticipation of the large drive that year,
the Dew-Drop-In dance-hall had been enlarged, and employed three shifts
of bartenders. A stage had been added with the new addition, and a
special importation of ladies had been brought out from Omaha for the
season. I use the term LADIES advisedly, for in my presence one of the
proprietors, with marked courtesy, said to an Eastern stranger, "Oh,
no, you need no introduction. My wife is the only woman in town; all the
balance are ladies." Beyond a shave and a ha