sed and started an hour
before, but my brother assured me that if I would wait until the deposed
foreman returned, the latter's company could be counted on. I waited,
and in the course of half an hour the trail boss came back from his
cattle. During the interim, the two old cowmen reviewed Grant's siege of
Vicksburg, both having been participants, but on opposite sides. While
the guest was shifting his saddle to a loaned horse, I inquired if there
was anything that I could attend to for any one at Ogalalla. Lovell
could think of nothing; but as we mounted to start, Reed aroused
himself, and coming over, rested the stub of his armless sleeve on my
horse's neck, saying:

"You boys might drop into the sheriff's office as you go in and also
again as you are starting back. Report the cattle as having spent a
quiet night and ask Phillips if he has any word for me."

Turning to the trail boss he continued: "Young man, I would suggest that
you hunt up your employer and have him stir things up. The cattle will
be well taken care of, but we're just as anxious to turn them back to
you as you are to receive them. Tell the seller that it would be well
worth his while to see Lovell and myself before going any farther. We
can put him in possession of a few facts that may save him time and
trouble. I reckon that's about all. Oh, yes, I'll be at this wagon all
evening."

My brother rode a short distance with us and introduced the stranger as
Hugh Morris. He proved a sociable fellow, had made three trips up the
trail as foreman, his first two herds having gone to the Cherokee Strip
under contract. By the time we reached Ogalalla, as strong a fraternal
level existed between us as though we had known each other for years.
Halting for a moment at the sheriff's office, we delivered our messages,
after which we left our horses at the same corral with the understanding
that we would ride back together. A few drinks were indulged in before
parting, then each went to attend to his own errands, but we met
frequently during the day. Once my boys were provided with funds, they
fell to gambling so eagerly that they required no further thought on my
part until evening. Several times during the day I caught glimpses of
Tolleston, always on horseback, and once surrounded by quite a cavalcade
of horsemen. Morris and I took dinner at the hotel where the trio of
government jobbers were stopping. They were in evidence, and amongst
the jolliest of the gu