The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-07-11
CHAPTER X

The winter dragged out SLOWLY.
hoPers plans, bold as they were,
mad been well laid. He had per-
celved from the first that success or
failure depended upon whether or
not he could make his war with
Tanner self sustaining. To gnaw
away at the Tanner herds was one
thing; to turn their captures into
cash was altogether another.
Roper had hoped that he could mi
tiate his own drives to the north.
but he had found this out of the
question. On the other hand, the
trail drivers had found themselves
so Vulnerable that none of them
wanted to buy cattle of questiona-
BILE ownership.
The Thorpe-Tanner organization
did not have this problem; they took
what they wanted and drove what
they wanted, by means of their own
trail outfits. But Roper could now
only dispose of cattle for the trail
through ranchers known to be
scrupulous and established men.
This was the strategic purpose be-
hind Roper's rehabilitation of the
eleven outfits which Tanner had orig
nally seized, and which Roper had
now put back into the hands of their
proper owners. These re-established
ranchers had not only the sympathy
but the respect of everyone who
knew anything about Texas cattle.
Through these men Roper now had
safe and sure outlet for the cattle
recovered by Dry Camps experts,
while the gunfghters under such
men as Nate Liggett, Tex Daniels,
and Hat Crick Tommy supplied a
much needed protection until they
could get on their feet.
But this method, promising as it
was, was slow. Of necessity the
men whom Roper backed were cow
men without assets other than their
disputed claim to their ground.
Sometimes by mortgage loans, but
principally by silent partnerships,
Roper had now obtained interests
in nearly dozen outfits. They
should have been thriving outfits.
But Roper found his money drain
without hope of any financial re-
turn until the trail should open in
the spring. Only the Mexican Dor
der operations, which depended upon
Lee Harnish, continued to show
thin trickle Of income through the
winter months. AS spring ap-
preached, Roper found himself near
the end of his string.
Early in February, Shoshone
Wilce came south seeking Bill Rop
er, and found him at the Pot Hook
ranch.
Find out anything?" Roper
asked.
Shoshone Wilce rubbed his badly
shaved chin with horny fingers. Il
don't know as you're going to like
this so very good, Bill"
Lets have the bad news frst-I
eat it up"
God knows there's enough of it;
there amt any other kind to be
had. What do you want to know
frst?"
flows Thorpe making out up
abovc?"
81 saw him in Dodge City; he
was throwing money around with a
shovel in each hand. You know
what l think? l think he can go
away and forget Tanner, and write
everything he has in Texas right
off the books, and never know the
difference!"
Roper locked his hands behind his
head and stared at the ceiling.
Sometimes it seemed to him that
trying break Tanner was like try
ing to ny,y the Rio Grande with
a ha- .rcr. The apparently I'M
bounced resources OF Ben Thorpe in
the middle country and in the north,
out of reach of the south Texas war,
made up a vast reservoir which
Tanner could draw on without limit.
How is Tanner himself making
out?"
Bill, I've been all up and down
the north and east part of Texas;
and l can't see where we've ac-
complishcd a damned thing"
"You don't know what you're talk
ing about"
you know what l Think" Wilcc
persisted. Il think there's more cat
tie in this country than the world
has any use for. l don't think you
can bother any man any more, just
by fooling with his cattle"
Never mind what you think
Let's have what you know"
II noscd around and tried to find
out what promises Tanners been
making for cattle on spring deliv-
cries. l didn't learn everything. No.
body learns everything. But l got
enough to total up"
Shoshone Wilce hcsitatcd, and
didn't say any more until he had
got a cigarette rolled. in the mid
die of rolling his cigarette he went
into a coughing fit, and spilled the
tobacco, so that he had to start over
again.
"Bin," he said at last, "Cleve
Tanners going TO drive more cattle
this year than he's ever drove be-
fore. In just one bunch alone he