The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-09-18
BUYING A RANCH.

younger son OF peer OF limited means
Hon. Horace had been brought up will
view to the family living, but when
just as his university career was draw
ing to close, his aunt died and left hin
a couple of thousand pounds, he relin
quished the idea of taking orders and de
termined to go out to the far West il
search OF adventures and wealth, and ht
persuaded two of his fathers servants
a groom and gardener-to accompany
him.
With nearly $4,000 in his pocket, an
outfit that would last lifetime-mOst il
could never be utilized where he was go
ing-two servants and three dogs, he
embG rked for the United States. After
a quick passage he arrived in New York
and here he met his first disappoint-
ment. The very next morning, few
minutes before starting on his journey
westward, his groom notified him that
their relations of master and servant had
ceased.
"How is that?n asked Horace.
"Well, you see, sir" said the servant,
who was an Irishman, 81 have an uncle
in this city who is great politician.
went to see him last night, and he says
that il III stay here he'll make police
man of me in ten days. He says as a
berth on the police force is worth a
salary of 800 month and lot of out
side money to a smart chap as amt too
particular"
So Hon. Horace was compelled to 90
on his way without the groom, although
It had cost about $3.50 to fit him out and
nay his passage. He had already been
m negotiations for small ranch near
Helena, Tex, and it was thither that he
was going, On arriving at Austin he
| found that there was no train for twenty
four hours, and accordingly he put up at
| che Shooters hotel. Here he came in
contact for the first time with ''genu-
inc TeXan," who greeted him according
to the modest stereotyped formula:
MorDin', scranger Hain't seen you
hereabouts afore. Glad 10 get 'quainted
wi you. Come to settle? What's your
biz? Come and take something"
Young Greenfield met number of
these gentry during the day, and being a
rank, unsuspecting young fellow, he
readily opened his heart to them and
told them of his prospects. his hopes and
lis intentions. They treated him kindly
l'ways inviting him 20 drink, but gener-
lly leaving him to settle the bill.
In the morning his lemaing servant
came and begged to be released from his
service, stating that nursery garden in
tie town had been offered him; and he
vhous bG that his chances would be better
in an Independent vocation than in SER
vice.
Are you prepared to reimburse me
for my expenses in bringing you here ?''
asked Horace.
81 can't afford that, sir" was the re-
ply.
VERY WELL" said Greenfield, 81 C? nj
prevenG you going. The only creatures
chat are faithful to me are my dogs. 1t
3ost me about $500 to equip and bring
you two men out, and you Gesert me at
the first opportunity. You can go"
| At,endcd by his three dogs the young
man continued on his journey to Helena,
md the next day went to view the ranch
which he contemplated purchasing,
Things were not exactly as he had con-
templated, but they were not so bad as
to cause him TO change his mind. The
handsome two-story dwelling, a photo
graph of which had been shown him in
London, turned out to be combination
OF stable and cattle shed, with loft.
which had been used by the last owner
| rs his habitaiiOn.
The soil was fairly fertile and the pas
ture good, but the broad, deep river
which he expected to find flowing in
-ront of the building was in reality only
gully few feet wfdo, down which
water did slowly trickle in the winter,
but which was perfectly dry during the
sumner months. However, he was not
discouraged, and having obtained a con-
cessiOn in the purchase price, he paid
> E.,N An 6
money. Then he brought out his three
dogs and all his poltmanteaus, and took
possession of the loft over the stable.
rwo days laoer he became the possessor
of horse and mrle, paying a price for
them that made his neighhoTs smile
when they heard of it. Every man in
the locality now called and offered to sell
him "cheaD" many implements and ami
mails which they did noG need. but witt =
out which they said, he could not possi-
bly, get along.
One individual, whom he had prev :
| Ously met in Austin, came from a dis
taut ranch, and begged him to go and
cattle were what Horace wanted, and be
liev;ug himself to be fair judge of them
he mounted his horse and rode away
Al ter ride of about twenty miles they
reached an enclosed tract of land, upon
which over a hundred head of stock were
grazing, unattended by ycowboys.
| 81 tell you, stranger" said the Texan,
refining in his horse and looking over the
fence, thar be the finest beasts in the
State, and they're to be sold as cheap as
| dirt-thirty dollars per head all round
| Horace could see at glance that there
wcs no deception here: they were really
fine animals and in fairly good condition
| "How many are there?" he asked.
Zone hundred and fifty" replied the
ranchman. sin six months from now
with the pasture you've got. they'll have
put on three hundred pounds of flest
apiece, and you know what money thai
means
The two men tied their horses to the
fence, climbed over it and walked among
ihe animals. 1t was much the best hero
AOIace had seen in Texas, and as it aL
peal ed to him that in months he would
make a handsome profit out of the trans
action, @ announced his intention oi
buying the lot.
Done with you stranger!" cried th'
Texan, shaking hands energetically witt
lyoung Greenfield; ''and now Wen JUS
lot into Austin and drink % your sue
cCss. l do the trea ing"
They rode into Austin and going Il
the hotel at which Horace had stopped ;
few days before, drank to the younl
Crglishman' success in two quar.s o
champagne, for which the generous Tex
an paid $40 a bottle When the win,
was consumed the ranchman said:
"The sun'll be getting low, yOunl
man, before you git them cattle home
You'd better start. Whar's your none,
did you say?''
sin the bank"
go and git it," the Texan continued
land when you've passed it over you cal
take the cattle. One hundred and fift,
times thirty is forty-fve hundred; that
| what you want, and tri1e to pay som
boys TO help you drive the cattle home.
Horace went to the bank, drew odt tn
NJ eessaly amount, and returning 20 tn
hotel, pa d the purchase money and tool
a receipt.
Then lie Texan told him to go an,
hire Two cowboys to help him drive tn
cattle home, and to bring them out +
the ranch, TO which he himself would a
once ride and order his lads to get tn
animals together, so that no time nee
be wasted.
Horace had no difficulty in finding tw
mounted men willing to help him driy
his purchase to his ranch, and attende
by them he trotted off in hopes of Ovel
taking his new friend.
But he arrived at the field where tn
cattle were grazing without doing SO, an
furthermore, on his arrival, could pc
ceive no signs of the Texan, He waite
few minutes, then said to one of III