hat Judge Colt would have figured in the preliminaries,
and the coroner might have been called on to impanel a jury. But the
rudiments of civilization were sweeping westward, and Ogalalla was
nerved to the importance of the occasion; for that very afternoon a
hearing was to be given for the possession of two herds of cattle,
valued at over a quarter-million dollars.

The representatives of The Western Supply Company were quartered in
the largest hotel in town, but seldom appeared on the streets. They had
employed a firm of local attorneys, consisting of an old and a young
man, both of whom evidently believed in the justice of their client's
cause. All the cattle-hands in Lovell's employ were anxious to get a
glimpse of Tolleston, many of them patronizing the bar and table of the
same hostelry, but their efforts were futile until the hour arrived for
the hearing. They probably have a new court-house in Ogalalla now, but
at the date of this chronicle the building which served as a temple
of justice was poorly proportioned, its height being entirely out of
relation to its width. It was a two-story affair, the lower floor
being used for county offices, the upper one as the court-room. A long
stairway ran up the outside of the building, landing on a gallery in
front, from which the sheriff announced the sitting of the honorable
court of Keith County. At home in Texas, lawsuits were so rare that
though I was a grown man, the novelty of this one absorbed me. Quite a
large crowd had gathered in advance of the hour, and while awaiting
the arrival of Judge Mulqueen, a contingent of fifteen men from the
two herds in question rode up and halted in front of the court-house.
Forrest and I were lying low, not caring to be seen, when the three
plaintiffs, the two local attorneys, and Tolleston put in an appearance.
The cavalcade had not yet dismounted, and when Dorg Seay caught sight
of Tolleston, he stood up in his stirrups and sang out, "Hello there,
Archibald! my old college chum, how goes it?"

Judge Mulqueen had evidently dressed for the occasion, for with the
exception of the plaintiffs, he was the only man in the court-room who
wore a coat. The afternoon was a sultry one; in that first bottom of the
Platte there was scarcely a breath of air, and collars wilted limp as
rags. Neither map nor chart graced the unplastered walls, the unpainted
furniture of the room was sadly in need of repair, while a musty odor
permeated the room.