The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-08-11
in the winter, but which was perfect

However he was not discouraged,
and having obtained a concession in
the price, he paid the first INSTALL
ment OF the purchase money. Then.
he brought out his three dogs and
all his portmanteaus, and took DOS
session Of the loft over the stable.
Two, days later he became the pos
SCISSOR Of a horse and a mule, paying
q price for thenl that.made his neigh
bors smile when they heard OF it..
Every man in the locality now called
and offered to sell him Cheap many
implements and animals which they
did not need, but without which,
the said, he could not possibly get
along.
One individual, whom he had previ-
ously met in Austin, came from a
distant ranch, and begged him to
go and see some cattle he had to
sell. Now cattle were what Horace
wanted, and believing himself to be
fair judge of them, he mounted his
horse and rode away with his new
acquaintance. After a ride of about
twenty miles they reached an inclos-
ed tract of land, upon which over a
hundred head of stock were grazing,
unattended by cowboys.
Il tell you, stranger, said the Texan,
refining in his horse and looking over
the fence, thar be the finest beasts
in this state, and they're to be sold
as cheap as dirt-thirty dollars per
head all round.' .
Horace could see at a glance that
there wasno deception here; they were
really fine animal, and in fairly good
condition.
How many are there?" he asked.
One hundred and fifty, replied the
ranchman. In six months from
now, with the pasture you've got,
they'll have put on three. hundred
pounds of flesh apiece, and you
know what money that MEANS"
The two men tied their horses to
the fence, climbed over it and walked
among the animals. 1t was much
the best herd that Horace had seen
in Texas, and as it appeared to him
that in a few months he could make
a handsome profit out of the trans
action he announced his intention of
buying the lot. 49,.
Ozone with you, stranger!'' cried
the Texan, shaking hands energeti-
cally with young Greenfield; "and
now We'll jist trot into Austin and
drink to your success. l do the
treating.''
They rode into Austin, and going
to the hotel at which Horace stopped
a few days before drank to the young
Englishman's success in two quarts
Of champagne, for which the gene
rous Texanpaid $1Oa bottle. When
the wine was consumed the ranch
man said:
''The sun'll be getting low, young
man, before you git them cattle
home. You'd better start. Whar's
your money?-in bank think you
said"
Horace nodded.
$50 and get it," the Texan con-
I,tinued: land when you've passed
lit over you can take the cattle.
One hundred and fifty times
thirty is <forty-fve hundred;
that's what you want, and trifle to
pay some boys to help you drive the
| cattle home.'' - 49,.
Horace went to the bank Che had
deposited his money here when last
in Austin, there being no such insti-
tuition as q bank in Helena), drew
out the necessary amount, and re-
farming to the hotel paid the pur-
chase m oney and took a receipt.
Then the Texan told him to 90
and hire two cowboys to help him to
drive the cattle home and to bring
them out to the ranch, to which he
himself would at once ride on and
order his lads to get the animals to-
gether, so that no time need be
wasted. .. -,-..
Horace had no difficulty in finding
two mounted men willing to help
him drive his purchase to his ranch,
and attended by them he trotted of
in hopes OF overtaking his new friend.
But he arrived at the field where the
cattle were grazing without doing so,
and furthermore on his arrival could
perceive no sign Of the Texan. He
waited a few minutes, then said to
one of the cowboys: cts odd that
Mr.. Philpott isn't here. How can
we get them out?'
"Can't do it," was the laconic re.
| ply. "Rope's too plentiful here.
aboUts to be driving away cattle
without the owners consent. know
old Philpott; he amt to be trifed
with. What you got to show you
bought 'em?" -
Horace held out his receipt and
each of the cowboys looked at it.
"That's right enough said one
of them, hell be here soon, guess y
But they waited half an hour and
he did not come, so Horace,
thoroughly angry and impatient,
smashed the lock on the gate and
rode into the Enclosure, followed by
his two attendants. He had, he said,
paid for the stock, and he was going
to take them.
Then the three cantered off in diff
ferent directions to bring the ami.