Chapter VII. When Greek Meets Greek

by Andy Adams

　　It was late that night when I reached the herd. Before I partedwith my employer we had carefully reviewed the situation in itsminutest details. Since the future could not be foreseen, wecould only watch and wait. The Texan may have his shortcomings,but lack of fidelity to a trust is not one of them, and relyingon the metal of my outfit, I at once put them in possession ofthe facts. At first their simple minds could hardly grasp theenormity of the injustice to our employer, but once the land layclear, they would gladly have led a forlorn hope in Don Lovell'sinterests. Agitation oyer the matter was maintained at white heatfor several days, as we again angled back towards the Cimarron.Around the camp-fires at night, the chicanery of The WesternSupply Company gave place to the best stories at our command."There ought to be a law," said Runt Pickett, in wrathyindignation, "making it legal to kill some people, same asrattlesnakes. Now, you take a square gambler and I don't thinkanything of losing my money against his game, but one of thesesneaking, under-dealing, top-and-bottom-business pimps, I dodespise. You can find them in every honest calling, same asvultures hover round when cattle are dying. Honest, fellows, I'djust dearly love to pull on a rope and watch one of the varmintsmake his last kick."Several days of showery weather followed. Crossing the Cimarron,we followed up its north slope to within thirty miles of theregular western trail. Not wishing to intercept it untilnecessity compelled us, when near the Kansas line we made ourlast tack for Dodge. The rains had freshened the country andflushed the creeks, making our work easy, and early in the monthof June we reached the Mulberry. Traveling at random, we struckthat creek about twenty miles below the trail, and moved up thestream to within a short distance of the old crossing. Thepresence of a dozen other herds holding along it forced us into apermanent camp a short half-day's ride from the town. Thehorse-wrangler was pressed into service in making up the firstguard that night, and taking Morg Tussler with me, I struck outfor Dodge in the falling darkness. On reaching the first divide,we halted long enough to locate the camp-fires along the Mulberryto our rear, while above and below and beyond the river, firesflickered like an Indian encampment. The lights of Dodge wereinviting us, and after making a rough estimate of the camps insight, we rode for town, arriving there between ten and eleveno'clock. The Dodge House was a popular hostelry for trail men andcattle buyers, and on our making inquiry of the night clerk if aMr. Siringo was stopping there, we were informed that he was, buthad retired. I put up a trivial excuse for seeing him, the clerkgave me the number of his room, and Tussler and I were sooncloseted with him. The detective was a medium-sized, ordinaryman, badly pock-marked, with a soft, musical voice, andapparently as innocent as a boy. In a brief preliminaryconversation, he proved to be a Texan, knowing every in and outof cattle, having been bred to the occupation. Our relations toeach other were easily established. Reviewing the situationthoroughly, he informed me that he had cultivated theacquaintance of the parties holding the assignment of the Bufordaward. He had represented to them that he was the fiscal agent ofsome six herds on the trail that year, three of which were heavybeeves, and they had agreed to look them over, provided theyarrived before the 15th of the month. He further assured me thatthe parties were mere figureheads of The Supply Company; thatthey were exceedingly bearish on the market, gloating over therecent depreciation in prices, and perfectly willing to fatten onthe wreck and ruin of others.It was long after midnight when the consultation ended.Appointing an hour for showing the herd the next day, or that onerather, Tussler and I withdrew, agreeing to be out of town beforedaybreak. But the blaze of gambling and the blare of dance-hallsheld us as in a siren's embrace until the lights dimmed with thebreaking of dawn. Mounting our horses, we forded the river eastof town and avoided the herds, which were just arising from theirbed-grounds. On the divide we halted. Within the horizon beforeus, it is safe to assert that one hundred thousand cattle grazedin lazy contentment, all feeding against the morning breeze. Savefor the freshness of early summer, with its background of greenand the rarified atmosphere of the elevated plain, the scenebefore us might be compared to a winter drift of buffalo, tenyears previous. Riding down the farther slope, we reached ourcamp in time for a late breakfast, the fifteen-mile ride havingwhetted our appetites. Three men were on herd, and sending twomore with instructions to water the cattle an hour before noon,Tussler and I sought the shade of the wagon and fell asleep. Itwas some time after midday when, on sighting the expectedconveyance approaching our camp, the cook aroused us. Performinga rather hasty ablution, I met the vehicle, freshened, and withmy wits on tap. I nearly dragged the detective from the liveryrig, addressing him as "Charley," and we made a rough ado overeach other. Several of the other boys came forward and, shakinghands, greeted him with equal familiarity. As two strangersalighted on the opposite side, the detective took me around andthey were introduced as Mr. Field and Mr. Radcliff, prospectivebeef buyers. The boys had stretched a tarpaulin, affording ampleshade, and Parent invited every one to dinner. The two strangerswere rather testy, but Siringo ate ravenously, repeatedly askingfor things which were usually kept in a well-stocked chuck-wagon,meanwhile talking with great familiarity with Tussler and me.The strangers said little, but were amused at the lightness ofour dinner chat. I could see at a glance that they were notcowmen. They were impatient to see the cattle; and when dinnerwas over, I explained to them that the men on herd would berelieved for dinner by those in camp, and orders would be given,if it was their wish, to throw the cattle compactly together. Tothis Siringo objected. "No, Mac," said he, "that isn't the rightway to show beeves. Here, Morg, listen to me; I'm foreman for thetime being. When you relieve the other lads, edge in your cattlefrom an ordinary loose herd until you have them on two or threehundred acres. Then we can slowly drive through them for an houror so, or until these gentlemen are satisfied. They're not wild,are they, Mac?"I assured every one that the cattle were unusually gentle; thatwe had not had a run so far, but urged caution in approachingthem with a conveyance. As soon as the relief started, I broughtin the livery team off picket, watered, and harnessed them intothe vehicle. It was my intention to accompany them on horseback,but Siringo hooted at the idea, and Mr. Radcliff and I occupiedthe back seat, puffing splendid cigars. We met the relieved mencoming in, who informed us that the herd was just over the hillon the south side of the creek. On reaching the gentle rise,there below us grazed the logy, lazy beeves, while the boysquietly rode round, silently moving them together as instructed.Siringo drove to their lead, and halting, we allowed the cattleto loiter past us on either side of the conveyance. It was aneasy herd to show, for the pounds avoirdupois were there.Numerous big steers, out of pure curiosity, came up near thevehicle and innocently looked at us as if expecting a dole orsweetmeat. A snap of the finger would turn them, showing theirrounded buttocks, and they would rejoin the guard of honor. Ifeyes could speak, the invitation was timidly extended, "Look atme, Mr. Buyer." We allowed the herd to pass by us, then slowlycircled entirely around them, and finally drove back and forththrough them for nearly two hours, when the prospective buyersexpressed themselves as satisfied.But the fiscal agent was not. Calling two of the boys, he askedfor the loan of their horses and insisted that the buyers ridethe cattle over and thoroughly satisfy themselves on the brands.The boys gladly yielded, and as Mr. Field and Mr. Radcliffmounted to ride away, the detective halted them long enough tosay: "Now, gentlemen, I wish to call your attention to the factthat over one half the herd are in the single Marshall ranchbrand. There are also some five hundred head in the '8=8,' thatbeing an outside ranch, but belonging to the estate. I aminformed that the remainder of nearly a thousand were turned inby neighboring ranchmen in making up the herd, and you'll findthose in various mixed brands. If there's a hoof among them notin the 'Open A' road, we'll cut them out for fear of trouble tothe buyer. I never sold a man cattle in my life who wasn't mycustomer ever afterward. You gentlemen are strangers to me; andfor that reason I conceal nothing. Now look them over carefully,and keep a sharp lookout for strays--cattle not in the roadbrand."I knew there were about twenty strays in the herd, and informedSiringo to that effect, but the cattle buyers noticed only two, ared and a roan, which again classed them as inexperienced menamong cattle. We returned to camp, not a word being said abouttrading, when the buyers suggested returning to town. Siringolooked at his watch, asked if there was anything further theywished to see or know, and expressed himself like a true Texan,"that there was ample time." I was the only one who had alighted,and as they started to drive away, I said to Siringo: "Charley,let me talk to you a minute first. You see how I'm situatedhere--too many neighbors. I'm going to ride north of townto-morrow, and if I can find a good camp on Saw Log, why I'llmove over. We are nearly out of supplies, anyhow, and the wagoncan go by town and load up. There's liable to be a mix-up heresome night on the Mulberry, and I'd rather be excused thanpresent.""That's all right, Mac; that's just what I want you to do. If wetrade, we'll make the deal within a day or two, and if not youcan start right on for Ogalalla. I've been selling cattle thelast few years to the biggest feeders in Nebraska, and I'm not alittle bit afraid of placing those 'Open A's.' About four monthsfull feed on corn will fit those steers to go to any market. Dropinto town on your way back from the Saw Log to-morrow."That evening my brother Bob rode into camp. He had seen ouremployer at Supply, and accordingly understood the situation. Thecourier had returned from Fort Elliott and reported his missionsuccessful; he had met both Forrest and Sponsilier. The latterhad had a slight run in the Panhandle during a storm, losing afew cattle, which he recovered the next day. For fear of arepetition, Forrest had taken the lead thereafter, and was due atSupply within a day or two. Flood and Priest had passed Abilene,Texas, in safety, but no word had reached our employer since, andit was believed that they had turned eastward and would come upthe Chisholm Trail. Bob reported the country between Abilene andDoan's Crossing as cut into dust and barren of sustenance, manyweak cattle having died in crossing the dry belt. But the moststartling news, seriously disturbing us both, was that ArchieTolleston was stationed at Doan's Crossing on Red River as atrail-cutter. He had come up from the south to Wichita Falls bytrain with trail cattle, and finding no opening as a foreman, hadaccepted the position of inspector for some Panhandle cattlecompanies. He and Bob had had a friendly chat, and Archieadmitted that it was purely his own hot-headedness whichprevented his being one of Lovell's foremen on the present drive.The disturbing feature was, that after leaving headquarters inMedina County, he had gone into San Antonio, where he met acouple of strangers who partially promised him a job as trailboss, in case he presented himself in Dodge about June 15. Theyhad intimated to him that it was possible they would need aforeman or two who knew the trail from the Arkansaw to theYellowstone and Missouri River country. Putting this and thattogether, the presence of Archie Tolleston in Dodge was not atall favorable to the working out of our plans. "And Arch isn'tthe man to forget a humiliation," concluded Bob, to which Iagreed.The next morning I rode across to the Saw Log, and up that creekbeyond all the herds. The best prospect for a camp was nearly duenorth opposite us, as the outfit lowest down the stream expectedto start for the Platte the next morning. Having fully made up mymind to move camp, I rode for town, taking dinner on Duck Creek,which was also littered with cattle and outfits. I reached townearly in the afternoon, and after searching all the hotels,located the fiscal agent in company with the buyers at the LoneStar saloon. They were seated around a table, and Mr. Field,noticing my entrance, beckoned me over and offered a chair. As Itook the proffered seat, both strangers turned on me, and Mr.Radcliff said: "McIndoo, this agent of yours is the hardest man Iever tried to trade with. Here we've wasted the whole morningdickering, and are no nearer together than when we started. Theonly concession which Mr. Siringo seems willing to admit is thatcattle are off from three to five dollars a head, while wecontend that heavy beeves are off seven dollars.""Excuse me for interrupting," said the fiscal agent, "but sinceyou have used the words heavy beeves, either one of you ask Mac,here, what those 'Open A's' will dress to-day, and what theyought to gain in the next three months on good grass and water.There he sits; ask him."Mr. Field explained that they had also differed as to what theherd would dress out, and invited my opinion. "Those beeves willdress off from forty-five to fifty per cent.," I replied. "TheTexan being a gaunt animal does not shrink like a domestic beef.Take that 'Open A' herd straight through and they will dress fromfour fifty to six hundred pounds, or average better than fivehundred all round. In three months, under favorable conditions,those steers ought to easily put on a hundred pounds of tallowapiece. Mr. Radcliff, do you remember pointing out a black muleyyesterday and saying that he looked like a native animal? I'lljust bet either one of you a hundred dollars that he'll dress outover five hundred pounds; and I'll kill him in your presence andyou can weigh his quarters with a steelyard."They laughed at me, Siringo joining in, and Mr. Field ordered thedrinks. "Mac," said the detective, "these gentlemen are allright, and you shouldn't take any offense, for I don't blame themfor driving a hard bargain. I'd probably do the same thing if Iwas the buyer instead of the seller. And remember, Mac, if thedeal goes through, you are to drive the herd at the seller'srisk, and deliver it at any point the buyer designates, theyaccepting without expense or reserve the cattle only. It meansover three months' further expense, with a remuda thrown back onyour hands; and all these incidentals run into money fast.Gentlemen, unless you increase the advance cash payment, I don'tsee how you can expect me to shade my offer. What's your hurry,Mac?"As it was growing late, I had arisen, and saying that I expectedto move camp to-morrow, invited the party to join me at the bar.I informed the buyers, during the few minutes' interim, that ifthey wished to look the cattle over again, the herd would crossthe river below old Fort Dodge about noon the next day. Theythanked me for the information, saying it was quite possible thatthey might drive down, and discussing the matter we all passedinto the street. With the understanding that the prospect ofmaking a deal was not hopeless, Siringo excused himself, and westrolled away together. No sooner was the coast clear than Iinformed the detective of the arrival of my brother, putting himin possession of every fact regarding Archie Tolleston. Hereadily agreed with me that the recent break between the latterand his former employer was a dangerous factor, and even went sofar as to say that Tolleston's posing as a trail-cutter at Doan'sCrossing was more than likely a ruse. I was giving the detectivea detailed description of Archie, when he stopped me and askedwhat his special weaknesses were, if he had any. "Whiskey andwomen," I replied. "That's good," said he, "and I want you tosend me in one of your best men in the morning--I mean one whowill drink and carouse. He can watch the trains, and if thisfellow shows up, we'll keep him soaked and let him enjoy himself.Send me one that's good for a ten days' protracted drunk. Youthink the other herds will he here within a few days? That's allI want to know."I reached camp a little before dark, and learned that Bob's herdhad dropped in just below us on the Mulberry. He expected to lieover a few days in passing Dodge, and I lost no time in preparingto visit his camp. While riding out that evening, I had made upmy mind to send in Dorg Seay, as he was a heady fellow, and indrinking had an oak-tan stomach. Taking him with me, I rode downthe Mulberry and reached the lower camp just as my brother andhis outfit were returning from bedding-down the cattle. Bobreadily agreed that the detective's plans were perfectlyfeasible, and offered to play a close second to Seay if it wasnecessary. And if his own brother does say so, Bob Quirk nevermet the man who could drink him under the table.My herd started early for the Saw Log, and the wagon for town.Bob had agreed to go into Dodge in the morning, so Dorg stayedwith our outfit and was to go in with me after crossing theriver. We threaded our way through the other herds, and shortlybefore noon made an easy ford about a mile below old Fort Dodge.As we came down to the river, a carriage was seen on the fartherbank, and I dropped from the point back to the drag end. Sureenough, as we trailed out, the fiscal agent and the buyers wereawaiting me. "Well, Mac, I sold your herd last night after youleft," said Siringo, dejectedly. "It was a kind of compromisetrade; they raised the cash payment to thirty thousand dollars,and I split the difference in price. The herd goes at $29 a headall round. So from now on, Mac, you're subject to thesegentlemen's orders."Mr. Field, the elder of the two buyers, suggested that if aconvenient camp could be found, we should lie over a few days,when final instructions would be given me. He made a memorandumof the number of head that I claimed in our road brand, and askedme if we could hold up the herd for a closer inspection. The leadcattle were then nearly a mile away, and galloping off toovertake the point, I left the party watching the saddle horses,which were then fording in our rear. But no sooner had I reachedthe lead and held up the herd, than I noticed Siringo on thewrangler's horse, coming up on the opposite side of the column ofcattle from the vehicle. Supposing he had something of a privatenature to communicate, I leisurely rode down the line and methim."Did you send that man in this morning?" he sternly demanded. Iexplained that my brother had done, properly coached, and thatSeay would go in with me in the course of an hour."Give him any money you have and send him at once," commanded thedetective. "Tolleston was due on the ten o'clock train, but itwas an hour late. Those buyers wanted me to wait for it, so hecould come along, but I urged the importance of catching you atthe ford. Now, send your man Seay at once, get Tolleston beastlydrunk, and quarter him in some crib until night."Unobserved by the buyers, I signaled Seay, and gave him theparticulars and what money I had. He rode back through the saddlestock, recrossed the river, and after rounding the bend, gallopedaway. Siringo continued: "You see, after we traded, they inquiredif you were a safe man, saying if you didn't know the Yellowstonecountry, they had a man in sight who did. That was last night,and it seems that this morning they got a letter from Tolleston,saying he would be there on the next train. They're either struckon him, or else he's in their employ. Mark my words."When we had showed the herd to the satisfaction of thepurchasers, they expressed themselves as anxious to return totown; but the fiscal agent of the Marshall estate wished to lookover the saddle horses first. Since they were unsold, andamounted to quite an item, he begged for just a few minutes' timeto look them over carefully. Who could refuse such a reasonablerequest? The herd had started on for the Saw Log, while theremuda had wandered down the river about half a mile, and it tookus nearly an hour to give them a thorough inspection. Once byourselves, the detective said, with a chuckle: "All I was playingfor was to get as large a cash payment as possible. Those mixedbrands were my excuse for the money; the Marshall estate mightwait for theirs, but the small ranchmen would insist on animmediate settlement the moment the cattle were reported sold. Ifit wasn't for this fellow Tolleston, I'd sell the other twoBuford herds the day they arrive, and then we could give TheWestern Supply Company the laugh. And say, when they drew me adraft for thirty thousand dollars on a Washington City bank, Inever let the ink dry on it until I took it around to Wright,Beverly & Co., and had them wire its acceptance. We'll give Seayplenty of time, and I think there'll be an answer on the checkwhen we get back to town."