Document text
414
4. L. .Emery
2/26/.37 al 1O words
i0OLK10.1: FOLS.In3
LOOKS IR; 30 L'IM4S D&C:IV1NG
se were moving cattle to pasture down below Hayden. It waz
nearly a three d y trip, and we tried to mike it to some ranch to stay
nights. 2he second night oat we stayed at the comfortable, modern
home of the Old Cattlec:lan.
be Old Cattleman is a pioneer in this country. In the early
days he worked for some of the larger ranches; first as owepuncher,
later as w-Igon U0S2 and then foreman. Alfter the Old Cattleman married
he went into business for himself. He boulit a ranch in the southeastern
part of Colorado and settled down to raise a family. '',:hen the children
.ere oid enouli to go to school he sold out and took them to :lexas, where
he put them in school.
3ut he was nevr happy away from his old trampin' grounds, and his
old friends, so he drifted back to New lexico, and bou4ht the ranch where
he now lives.
He has buffeted the storms of drou.-Tht, depression, and the more
tangibl,, storms of dust, but throu7h it all has hung on with grim tenacity
oharacteristic of men of his calibre, and is ones again ooming to the top.
I was glad to have an oppprtunity to stay with the Old Cattleman.
He had been a good friend of my father's, and I had known him tinoe boy-
hood, at it had been years Biwa.) I had really visited with him.
i..fter eating a hearty supper, we settled into comfortable chairs
around the fireplace, ana lighted our rApes. Gradually the conversation da
changed from topics of the day to Cattle, and then to the 01d Cattleman's
favorite topic horses.
looks nro
TZ
the Old Cattleman was in a reminiscent mood and told various
interesting stories of experiences he had had,and men and horses he had
known. Finally the t. it switohed to cowboys trying to kill one another 'a
horses on long rid#541; and the following story is one the Old Cattleman
told of one of his experiences.
"I was down at one of the Boll *amps on the Canadian, and was
preparing to go to Clayton the next day.
"About sandotn etaanger rode in o camp. 'to invited him to Qom
in and have supper and spend the night. Ehis next morning, when be found that
I was going to Clayton, he said he as going that way, too, and would rids
aloag with met
"Be was riding a tine looking, olose-bailt, trim made bay horse.
I Was riding a big, raw -one, consumptive looting black hone, whose neck
was no; muoh wider than your two hands; he didn't look like he could travel
any distanoe at all.
nail, we hadn't gone fax when th tranger began Miliking fun of
me0onsumptive nd"old plug", as he oalle him. Alban he Licked his horse
into a run. I didn't see any sena* in hurr,ing s) we had all day to
mate the trip but I wasn't going to be left behind hi that stranger,
so I ticked my horse into a run, too.
"to went faster an faster, up hili and down, over rough and smooth
ground; slowing onlj to cross 0708AE and arroyos, where it was too rooky to
lop* our horses, than baok to the same old ult.
"2110 miles flew past and the sun roso higher in the sty, out the
stranger showed so signs of slackIng his paoe, so I didn't either. I know
the saving qualities of my horse, even if he didn't look like earthing.
"at last the buildings of Clayton could Oe soon in the distance
and we were still going strong.
Looks Are Deceiving
"When we got nearly to the Porto* creek, I noticed that the ears of the
stranger's horse were beginning to flop, and his tail was bobbing up and
down like it was going to bob, off.
"I just thoaght to myself, Well, that old boy's horse is about done for
and he don't know it.'
reaehed the bottom of the creek, and tho hors. stopped dead still. He
refased to badge an inch. It wasn't quite three miles to town, so I just vent
on in.
"When I reached the livery stable, I gave my horse a good rub -down and
rinsed his mouth and nostrils out with cold water, but didn't give him a drink.
'sulked him around, and worked with him over a half hour before I fed and watered
him.
"taken I was satisfied that he would be alright, went to the hotel for my
own dinner, as it was noon then. I visited with sone of the men on the street,
and loafed around town about two hours before I started baok to the stables
to get my horse,
"Just as 1 reached che stables I met the stranger coming slowly down the
street on his exhausted °slue,. I walked tip to him and told him Ind been
waiting for him as I was going on to Kenton, and thouTht maybe he wanted to ride
that far with me.
"H--1 no& I don't want to go to Kenton with you,. and I don't ever want
to see you again," he barked at mes.
"I Oughed at him and went on and lot my horse. I rode on to my ranch
north of Kenton, that afternoon. It was about six thirty when I got there. I
had made the trip from the Canadian to the etynch a distanoe of about 105 miles
in about twelve hours, and my horse mat still in good condition, eve* thoagt he did
lank like a "plug and a oonsomptive".
Looks are 3ometimei D.oeiving
Z. M. Smarr
some al-! OF I illPOILAT ION
1. Zazioh, Jack, Stead. Now *mdse. Thib story was told to the
writor by AO. Zurich, on a recent visit to the 7urieh Nowak,
*MOIL is about 46 miles south of Clayton. Mo. Zurich is
*2he Cad Cattleman of the story.