I married during the holidays.  The new ranch was abandoned during the winter months, as the cattle readily cared for themselves, requiring no attention.  I now had a good working capital, and having established myself by marriage into a respectable family of the country, I found several avenues open before me.  Among the different openings for attractive investment was a brand of cattle belonging to an estate south in Comanche County.  If the cattle were as good as represented they were certainly a bargain, as the brand was offered straight through at four dollars and a half a head.  It was represented that nothing had been sold from the brand in a number of years, the estate was insolvent, and the trustee was anxious to sell the entire stock outright.  I was impressed with the opportunity, and early in the winter George Edwards and I rode down to look the situation over.  By riding around the range a few days we were able to get a good idea of the stock, and on inquiry among neighbors and men familiar with the brand, I was satisfied that the cattle were a bargain.  A lawyer at the county seat was the trustee, and on opening negotiations with him it was readily to be seen that all he knew about the stock was that shown by the books and accounts.  According to the branding for the past few years, it would indicate a brand of five or six thousand cattle.  The only trouble in trading was to arrange the terms, my offer being half cash and the balance in six months, the cattle to be gathered early the coming spring.  A bewildering list of references was given and we returned home.  Within a fortnight a letter came from the trustee, accepting my offer and asking me to set a date for the gathering.  I felt positive that the brand ought to run forty per cent steer cattle, and unless there was some deception, there would be in the neighborhood of two thousand head fit for the trail.  I at once bought thirty more saddle horses, outfitted a wagon with oxen to draw it, besides hiring fifteen cow-hands.  Early in March we started for Comanche County, having in the mean time made arrangements with the elder Edwards to supply one thousand head of trail cattle, intended for the Kansas market.

An early spring favored the work.  By the 10th of the month we were actively engaged in gathering the stock.  It was understood that we were to have the assistance of the ranch outfit in holding the cattle, but as they numbered only half a dozen and were miserably mounted, they were of little use except as herders.  All the neighboring ranches gave us round-ups, and by the time we reached the home range of the brand I was beginning to get uneasy on account of the numbers under herd.  My capital was limited, and if we gathered six thousand head it would absorb my money.  I needed a little for expenses on the trail, and too many cattle would be embarrassing.  There was no intention on my part to act dishonestly in the premises, even if we did drop out any number