gone unmolested wherever they wished, and that it was out of my way to turn west and go up through Colorado.  The committee was reasonable, looked over the lead herd, and saw that I was driving graded cattle, and finally invited me in to state my case before the convention.  I accompanied the men sent to warn me away, and after considerable parley I was permitted to address the assembly.  In a few brief words I stated my destination, where I was from, and the quality of cattle making up my herds, and invited any doubters to accompany me across the river and look the stock over.  Fortunately a number of the cattlemen in the convention knew me, and I was excused while the assembly went into executive session to consider my case.  Prohibition was in effect at Lakin, and I was compelled to resort to diplomacy in order to cross the Arkansas River with my cattle.  It was warm, sultry weather in the valley, and my first idea was to secure a barrel of bottled beer and send it over to the convention, but the town was dry.  I ransacked all the drug stores, and the nearest approach to anything that would cheer and stimulate was Hostetter’s Bitters.  The prohibition laws were being rigidly enforced, but I signed a “death warrant” and ordered a case, which the druggist refused me until I explained that I had four outfits of men with me and that we had contracted malaria while sleeping on the ground.  My excuse won, and taking the case of bitters on my shoulder, I bore it away to the nearest livery stable, where I wrote a note, with my compliments, and sent both by a darkey around to the rear door of the convention hall.

On adjournment for dinner, my case looked hopeless.  There was a strong sentiment against admitting any cattle from Texas, all former privileges were to be set aside, and the right to quarantine against any section or state was claimed as a prerogative of a free people.  The convention was patiently listening to all the oratorical talent present, and my friends held out a slender hope that once the different speakers had relieved their minds they might feel easier towards me, and possibly an exception would be made in my case.  During the afternoon session I received frequent reports from the convention, and on the suggestion of a friend I began to skirmish around for a second case of bitters.  There were only three drug stores in the town, and as I was ignorant of the law, I naturally went back to the druggist from whom I secured the first case.  To my surprise he refused to supply my wants, and haughtily informed me that one application a day was all the law permitted him to sell to any one person.  Rebuffed, I turned to another drug store, and was greeted by the proprietor, who formerly ran a saloon in Dodge.  He recognized me, calling me by name; and after we had pledged our acquaintance anew behind the prescription case, I was confidentially informed that I could have his whole house and welcome, even if the State of Kansas did object and he had to go