CHAPTER XVI
A PROTECTED CREDIT
The trail outfit swept past the ranch, leaving Dell on nettles. Theimportance of the message was urgent, and saddling up a horse, hestarted up the Beaver in search of Joel and Sargent. They were metreturning, near the dead-line, and after listening to the breathlessreport, the trio gave free rein to their horses on the homeward ride.
"I'll use old Rowdy for my seventh horse," said Joel, swinging out ofthe saddle at the home corral. "Bring him in and give him a feed ofcorn. It may be late when I overtake the outfit. Mr. Quince says thatthat old horse has cow-sense to burn; that he can scent a camp at night,or trail a remuda like a hound."
An hour later Joel cantered up to the tent. "This may be a wild-goosechase," said he, "but I'm off. If my hopes fall dead, I can make a handcoming back. Sargent, if I do buy any cattle, your name goes on thepay-roll from to-day. I'll leave you in charge of the ranch, anyhow.There isn't much to do except to ride the dead-line twice a day. Thewintered cattle are located; and the cripples below--the water andtheir condition will hold them. Keep open house, and amuse yourselvesthe best you can. That's about all I can think of just now."
Joel rode away in serious meditation. Although aged beyond his years, hewas only seventeen. That he could ride into Dodge City, the far-famedtrail-town of the West, and without visible resources buy cattle, was afit subject for musing. There the drovers from Texas and the ranchmenfrom the north and west met and bartered for herds--where the drive ofthe year amounted to millions in value. Still the boy carried a pressinginvitation from a leading drover to come, and neither slacking rein norlooking back, he was soon swallowed up in the heat-waves over the plain.
Sargent and Dell sought the shelter of the awning. "Well," said thelatter, "that trip's a wild-goose chase. How he expects to buy cattlewithout money gets me."
"It may be easier than it seems," answered Sargent. "You secured a startin cattle last summer without money. Suppose you save a thousand headout of the cripples this year, what have they cost you?"
"That's different," protested Dell. "Dodge City is a market wherebuyers and sellers meet."
"True enough. And behind that are unseen conditions. The boom of twoyears ago in land and live stock bankrupted many people in Texas. Cattlecompanies were organized on the very summit of that craze. Then came theslump. Last year cattle had fallen in price nearly forty per cent. Thisyear there is a further falling. I'm giving you Texas conditions. Halfthe herds at Dodge to-day are being handled by the receivers of cattlecompanies or by trustees for banks. That accounts for the big drive.Then this drouth came on, and the offerings at Dodge are unfit for anypurpose, except to restock ranches. And those northern ranchmen know it.They'll buy the cattle at their own price and pay for them when they getgood and ready."
Dell was contending for his view. "Do you claim that a northern cowmancan buy cattle from a Texas drover without money?"
"Certainly. When one sheep jumps off the cliff and breaks his neck, allthe rest jump off and break their necks. When money is pouring intocattle, as it was two years ago, range cattle were as good as gold. Now,when all that investment is trying to withdraw from cattle, they becomea drag on the market. The Simple Simons ain't all dead yet. Joel willbuy cattle."
"He may, but I don't see how."
"Buy them just as any other wide-awake cowman. You brothers are known inDodge. This water that you have given the drovers, during the drouth,has made you friends. Mr. Lovell's word, in your behalf, is as good asmoney in the bank. Joel will come back with cattle. My only fear is, hewon't strain his credit."
"Credit! Who would credit us?"
"Why not? There are not so many drovers at Dodge who had your showing atthe same age. They have fought their way up and know who to credit. Yourrange and ability to hold cattle are your best assets. We must shape upthe ranch, because Joel will come in with cattle."
"You're the foreman," said Dell assentingly. "And what's more, if Joelcomes home with cattle, I'll hit the ground with my hat and shout asloud as any of you."
"That's the talk. I'm playing Joel to come back winner. Let's saddle uphorses, and ride through the cripples this afternoon. I want to get thelay of the range, and the water, and a line on the cattle."
Joel overtook Bob Quirk midway between the Prairie Dog and therailroad. The outfit was drifting south at the rate of forty miles aday, traveling early and late to avoid the heat. On sighting the lonehorseman in the rear, signals were exchanged, and the foreman halteduntil Joel overtook the travelers.
"This is the back track," said Quirk, "and we're expected to crowd threedays into one. I don't know what the old man wants with you, but I had awire to pick you up."
"Mr. Lovell has been urging me to stock our range--to buy more cattle,"admitted Joel.
"That's what I thought. He's buying right and left. We're on our way nowto receive cattle. That's it; the old man has a bunch of cattle insight for you."
"Possibly. But what's worrying me is, how am I to buy them--if it takesany money!" dejectedly admitted the husky boy.
"Is that fretting you?" lightly inquired Quirk. "Let the old man do theworrying--that's his long suit. You can rest easy that he has everythingall figured out. It might keep you and I guessing, but it's as clear asmud to that old man. We'll make Dodge in four days."
The ravages of the drouth were disheartening. A few hours after sunrise,a white haze settled over the dull, dead plain, the heat-waves rolledup to the cavalcade like a burning prairie, sweat and dust crusted overthe horses under saddle, without variation of pace or course. Only threeherds were met, feeling their way through the mirages, or loiteringalong the waters. Traveling by night was preferable, and timing theroute into camps and marches, the cottonwood on the Arkansas River wassighted in advance of the schedule.
The outfit halted on a creek north of town. Cattle under herd had beensighted by the thousands, and before the camp was made snug, aconveyance drove up and Forrest and Don Lovell alighted.
"Well, Bob, you're a little ahead of time," said the latter, amidgeneral greetings, "but I'm glad of it. I've closed trades on enoughcattle to make up a herd, and the sellers are hurrying me to receivethem. Pick up a full outfit of men to-night, and we'll receive to-morrowafternoon. Quince took the train at Cheyenne, but his outfit ought toreach here in a day or so. I've laid my tape on this market, and haveall the cattle in sight that I want. Several deals are pending, awaitingthe arrival of this boy. Come to town to-night. I'll take Joel under mywing right now."
Three horses were caught, Joel riding one and leading two, and thevehicle started. It was still early in the afternoon, and following downthe creek, within an hour the party reached a trail wagon encamped. Anumber of men were about, including a foreman; and at the request of Mr.Lovell to look over their cattle and horses again the camp took on anair of activity. A small remuda was corralled within ropes, running fromchoice to common horses, all of which were looked over carefully by thetrio, including the wagon team. A number of horses were under saddle,and led by the foreman, a quartette of men started in advance tobunch the herd.
Leaving Forrest at the camp, Mr. Lovell and Joel took the rig andleisurely followed the departing horsemen. "This is one of the bestherds on the market," said the old drover to the boy, "and I've kept thedeal pending, to see if you and I couldn't buy it together. It runs fullthirty-five hundred cattle, twelve hundred threes and the remaindertwos. I always buy straight two-year-olds for my beef ranch, because Idouble-winter all my steer cattle--it takes two winters in the north tofinish these Texas steers right. Now, if you can handle the threes, theremnant of twos, and the saddle stock, we'll buy the herd, lock, stock,and barrel. The threes will all ship out as four-year-old beeves nextfall, and you can double-winter the younger cattle. I can use twothousand of the two-year-olds, and if you care for the others, after welook them over, leave me to close the trade."
"Mr. Lovell, it has never been clear to me how I am to buy cattlewithout money," earnestly said Joel
.
"Leave that to me--I have that all figured out. If we buy this herdtogether, you can ship out two thousand beef cattle next fall, and aranch that has that many beeves to market a year hence, can buy, with orwithout money, any herd at Dodge to-day. If you like the cattle and wantthem, leave it all to me."
"But so many horses--We have forty horses already," protested Joel.
"A wide-awake cowman, in this upper country, always buys these southernhorses a year in advance of when he needs them. Next year you'll berunning a shipping outfit, mounting a dozen men, sending others on fallround-ups, and if you buy your horses now, you'll have them in the pinkof condition then. It's a small remuda, a few under sixty horses, asfifty head were detailed out here to strengthen remudas that had to goto the Yellowstone. This foreman will tell you that he topped outtwenty-five of the choice horses before the other trail bosses wereallowed to pick. As the remuda stands, its make-up is tops and tailings.A year hence one will be as good as the other. You'll need the horses,and by buying down to the blanket, turning the owner foot-loose andfree, it will help me to close the trade, in our mutual interest."
The cattle were some two miles distant, under close herd, and by quietlyedging them in onto a few hundred acres, they could be easily lookedover from the conveyance. On the arrival of the prospective buyers, theforeman had the cattle sufficiently compact, and the old man and the boydrove back and forth through the herd for fully an hour. They werethrifty, western Texas steers, had missed the drouth by coming into thetrail at Camp Supply, and were all that could be desired in rangecattle. The two agreed on the quality of the herd, and on driving outfrom among the cattle, the foreman was signaled up.
"One of my outfits arrived from the Platte this afternoon," said Mr.Lovell, "and we'll receive to-morrow. That leaves me free to pick upanother herd. If Dud would try his best, he would come very near sellingme these cattle. I've got a buyer in sight for the threes and remnant oftwos, and if you price the horses right, we might leave you afoot. Ifyou see Dudley before I do, tell him I looked over his cattle again."
"I'll see him to-night," said the foreman, calling after the vehicle.
Forrest was picked up, and they returned to town. The fame of wickedDodge never interfered with the transaction of business, its iniquitycatering largely to the rabble.
"I'll take Joel with me," said the drover to Forrest, "and you lookafter the horses and hang around the hotel. Dud Stoddard is almost sureto look me up, and if you meet him, admit that we looked over his cattleagain. I want him to hound me into buying that herd."
Joel's taciturn manner stood him in good stead. He was alert to all thatwas passing and, except with Mr. Lovell, was reticent in the extreme.The two strolled about the streets during the evening hours, and onreturning to the hotel rather late, Dudley Stoddard was awaiting the olddrover. There was no prelude to the matter at issue, and after arrangingwith other sellers to receive the following day, Mr. Lovell led the wayto his room.
"This is one of the Wells Brothers," said the old cowman, presentingJoel; "one of the boys who watered the drive on the Beaver this summer.I was up on his ranch about a month ago, and gave him a good scoldingfor not stocking his range somewhere near its carrying capacity. He'sthe buyer I had in view for your three-year-olds. You offered me theherd, on time, and at satisfactory prices. I can use two thousand of thetwos, and Wells Brothers will take the remainder, and we'll turn youafoot. Say so, and your herd is sold."
"Well," said Mr. Stoddard, somewhat embarrassed, "I don't happen to knowthe Wells Brothers--and I usually know men when I extend them a credit.This boy--Well, I'm not in the habit of dealing with boys."
"You and I were boys once and had to make our start," testily repliedMr. Lovell, pacing the room. "The Wells Brothers are making the fightthat you and I were making twenty years ago. In our early struggles, hadsome one stood behind us, merely stood behind us, it might have beendifferent with us to-day. And now when I don't need no help--Dud, itdon't cost much to help others. These boys have proven themselves white,to yours and to my men and to yours and to my cattle. Is there nothingwe can do?"
Mr. Stoddard turned to the old drover. "I'll renew my last offer to you.Take the herd and sell these boys the older cattle and remnants. Youknow the brothers--you know their resources."
"No!" came the answer like a rifle-shot.
"Then, will you stand sponsor--will you go their security?"
"No! These boys can't send home for money nor can't borrow any. Theironly asset is their ability to hold and mature cattle. Last winter, themost severe one in the history of the West, they lost two per cent oftheir holdings. Neither you nor I can make as good a showing on any ofour ranges. Dud, what I'm trying to do is to throw on this boy'sshoulders the _responsibility_ of _paying_ for _any cattle he buys_. Athis age it would be wrong to rob him of that important lesson. Let's youand I stand behind him, and let's see to it that he makes the righteffort to protect his credit."
"That's different," admitted Mr. Stoddard. "Don, if you'll suggest themeans to that end, I'll try and meet you halfway."
Mr. Lovell took a seat at the table and picked up a blank sheet ofpaper. "As mutual friends," said he, "let me draw up, from seller tobuyer, an iron-clad bill of sale. Its first clause will be a vendor'slien for the cost of the cattle, horses, etc. Its second will be theappointment of a commission house, who will act as agent, hold thiscontract, and receive the beeves when ready for shipment to market. Itsthird clause will be your right, as creditor in a sale of chattel, toplace a man of your own selection on Wells Brothers' ranch, under theirpay and subject to their orders. As your representative, the privilegeis granted of making a daily, weekly, or monthly report to you of thecondition of the cattle and the general outlook of the buyers to meetthis, their covenant with the seller, before November 1, 1887.
"I wouldn't enter into such a contract with you," continued Mr. Lovell,throwing down the sheet of paper, "but I want this boy to learn thevalue of a well-protected credit. At his time of life, it's an asset.I'll pay for my half when it's convenient, but I want him to meet hisfirst obligation on or before the day of maturity. I can speak for theboy's willingness to make such a contract. What do you say?"
"Delivery here or elsewhere?" inquired Mr. Stoddard.
"My half here, within three days, the remainder on the Beaver, a sevendays' drive. It won't cost you a cent more to send your outfit home fromGrinnell than from Dodge. Ten days will end all your trouble. Whatdo you say?"
"Don, let me talk the matter over with you privately," said Mr.Stoddard, arising. "The boy will excuse us. We'll give him asquare deal."
The two old men left the room. Forrest arose from a couch and threw hisarms around Joel. "It's a sale!" he whispered. "The cattle's yours! Thatold man of mine will ride Dud Stoddard all around the big corral andspur him in the flank at every jump, unless he comes to those terms. Aniron-clad bill of sale is its own surety. You'll need the man, anyhow. Iwant to give the long yell."
Mr. Lovell returned after midnight, and alone. Forrest and Joel arose tomeet him, inquiry and concern in every look and action.
"Take Joel and get out of here," said the old drover, whose twinklingeyes could not conceal the gloating within. "I've got to draw up thatbill of sale. Just as if those steers wouldn't pay for themselves nextfall. Get to bed, you rascals!"
"Would there be any harm if I went down to the bank of the river andgave the long yell?" inquired Forrest, as he halted in the doorway.
"Get to bed," urged the old drover. "I'll want you in the morning. We'llclose a trade, the first thing, on fifteen hundred of those Womacktwos. That'll give you a herd, and you can keep an eye over Joel'scattle until the Beaver's reached."
During the few days which followed, Joel Wells was thrown in contactwith the many features of a range cattle market. In all the migrationsof mankind, strictly cattle towns like Dodge City and Ogalalla areunknown. They were the product of all pastoral ages, reaching a climaxon American soil, and not of record in any o
ther country or time. Joellet little escape him. Here men bought and sold by the thousand head, inhis day and generation, and he was a part of that epoch.
The necessary number of cattle to complete a herd for Forrest werepurchased without leaving town. The afternoon was spent in receiving aherd, in which the veteran drover took a hand, assisted by two competentforemen. Every feature in the cattle, the why and wherefore, was pointedout by the trio, to the eager, earnest boy, so that the lesson sunk intoJoel's every fibre. The beauty of the first herd received was in theuniform average of each animal, when ages, class, and build governedselection.
Forrest's outfit arrived that evening, and without even a day's restarrangements were made to receive the two contingents the next morning.When it came to receive the Stoddard herd, the deftness with which thetwo outfits classified the cattle was only short of marvelous. Thethrees were cut out, and each age counted. The over-plus of the youngercattle were cut back, and the contingents were tendered on delivery. Thepapers were ready, executed on the ground, and the herds started, thesmaller in the lead.
The drive to the Beaver was without incident. Forrest spent most of histime with the little herd, which used only eight men, counting Joel, whostood guard at night and made a hand. The herd numbered a few overfifteen hundred cattle, the remuda fifty-six horses, a team and wagon,the total contract price of which was a trifle under twenty-fivethousand dollars. It looked like a serious obligation for two boys toassume, but practical men had sanctioned it, and it remained for theability of Wells Brothers to meet it.
On nearing the Beaver, the lead herd under Bob Quirk took the new trail,which crossed at the ranch. On their leaving the valley, a remark wasdropped, unnoticed by Dell, but significant to Jack Sargent. It resultedin the two riding out on the trail, only to meet the purchased cattle,Joel on one point and Forrest on the other, directing the herds to thetanks below. The action bespoke its intent, and on meeting Forrest, thelatter jerked his thumb over his shoulder, remarking, "Drop back andpilot the wagon and remuda into the ranch. We're taking this passel ofcattle into the new tanks, and will scatter them up and down the creek.Lovell's cattle? No. Old man Joel Wells bought these to stock his ranch.See how chesty it makes him--he won't even look this way. You boys mayhave to sit up with him a few nights at first, but he'll get over that.Pilot in the remuda. You two are slated to take this outfit to therailroad to-night. Trail along, my beauties; Wells Brothers are shakingout a right smart bit of sail these days."