The Ranch on the Beaver
by Andy Adams
Between the Millstones
The spring round-up was over. The ranch on the Beaver was elated with the results. Where a thousand cattle were expected adrift, the outfit had returned with fully twelve hundred of their own, with strays enough to pay all winter and current expenses. The effect on the brothers was a valuable experience, affording them a deeper grasp on their occupation, giving them confidence, and otherwise broadening them by and large. The greed of their fellow men, tempted and fallen to the point of outcasts, the test of true men, the right triumphant, were lessons that the boys absorbed.
The acquaintance of Inspector Vance was worth while. He was sent here and there by his association, to round-ups, to markets, cutting trail crossings; he was simple, affable, yet a fearless man within his rights. He had served his native State as a ranger, carried scars from gunshot wounds in clashing with criminals, and was now in the employ of one of the strongest cattle associations in the known world. Inspector Vance was truly a man of his day.
'When can you drop me on the railroad?' he inquired the evening after the home round-up. 'I'm liable to be sent to Saint Louis again during the beef shipping season. Our people have inspectors on every market during the run of range beef. But I want to go home first. You see, I have a wife and babies, and they like to see me now and then.'
'We'll go in the morning,' answered Manly, nodding to Joel.
'To-day lets me out. I'll write a letter to Uncle Dud, and let it beat me home about three days. I'll report your winter-kill and other losses under one per cent. When I get home, you can depend on me telling our winter and spring work, high, wide, and handsome.'
'What's your hurry?' inquired Joel, looking from Vance to Manly. 'Why not rest your saddles a few days?'
'Hamlet may stay,' protested the latter. 'Your work's over until the beef-shipping season begins. You haven't a thing to do but ride fat horses. Oh, I'm as good as gone. The way I will rear up my feet and tell it wild and woolly will be some happenstance. You heard me! Zizzaparoola!'
There was cause for rejoicing. The future outlook of the ranch on the Beaver was rosy. It would be able to send to the market, that fall, two thousand beeves, which meant further independence. The only cloud on the horizon was the settlement of three families, homesteaders, in the same valley, and not over ten or twelve miles below the old trail crossing. There was no conflict of interest; in fact, the presence of the settlers was an advantage. But their coming cast a shadow. Others might come, and there was no way whereby the brothers could ever hope to own the land on which their cattle grazed. It was subject to homestead only. They simply filled the niche between their Indian predecessors and the sturdy, home-loving settler. Further, it set a limit on the present range of the brothers. And with youth and ambition pulsing high, having tasted success, the shadow remained as a warning that the boys had reached their limitations on the Beaver.
There was no holding Manly longer, and Joel agreed to take him and the inspector to the railroad. The evening was spent in writing letters, the older boy even penning one to the commission firm in Kansas City.
'Manly says there's nothing to do,' said Joel the next morning, mounting his horse, 'but you boys might scatter the cattle a little more evenly over the range. Oh, yes, Dale: Dell knows our three gentle cows, and you might take them down to those settlers whose acquaintance you made while we were away. I remember, when we took this homestead, it was a struggle to get enough to eat. Explain to those folks that the calves fall to this ranch, but that they are welcome to the cows. And you might make inquiry if any of them could help us during the beef shipping season.'
On reaching the station, a letter from the commission firm was awaiting the brothers. Its contents covered Joel's report as fully as his own to them. There was nothing unusual in the coincidence; all were deeply interested in the result of the spring work. In addition, there was just a vague hint that another ranch, on the Arickaree, in Colorado, for which the firm acted as factor, might be called to account for negligence in not making the proper effort to gather their winter drift. Inquiry as to the distance between it and the Wells Ranch was direct.
'What do you think?' inquired the boy, after reading the letter to Manly. 'What does it mean?'
'It might mean several things,' answered Manly, glancing over the letter. 'It seems that a second report is awaited. If it is not satisfactory, some one must answer. Where is the Arickaree?'
'It's the North Fork of the Republican,' answered Vance. 'Where can we find a map?'
'At the depot,' answered Joel, leading the way.
Reference to a folder not only confirmed the statement of the inspector, but revealed the fact that the main Republican forked not over one hundred miles northwest of the Beaver Ranch.
'Why, we were almost on the Arickaree last fall,' said Manly, studying the map. 'We met your Trail City cattle on the South Fork of the Republican. It can't be far north to the Arickaree.'
'The new trail to Ogalalla calls it twenty miles,' answered Vance. The inspector was an authority on any range question.
'By the way, what became of those two Arickaree men who joined your wagon, a few days before we left the Beaver?' inquired Manly of Joel.
'They went with Sargent's wagon on the western division.'
'Tin-horn gamblers,' explained Manly to Vance. 'Any ranch that they worked for was poorly represented.'
'I remember the pair,' said the inspector. 'Sargent invited them to hunt another wagon. To avoid work, they always had the ready excuse. It was either they weren't expecting to find any of their cattle until the Smoky was reached, or their horses were too weak, or they were detailed to drift the cut. They were so insulted by Sargent that they quit the round-up. They weren't looking for cattle; all they wanted was a card game. Claimed they would meet their wagon when the Colorado work began.'
'Those are the ones,' said Joel. 'But they represented some ranch. At least they showed me their brand-book; men from the Republican knew the outfit, a cattle company. Sargent claims he saw hundreds of their cattle on the Arkansaw and Smoky.'
'If those old boys are the ones sent out to gather the cattle that this commission firm is inquiring about,' hazarded Manly, 'then it's a cinch that their strays are still adrift.'
'It won't be the first instance,' said the inspector. 'That's what makes rustlers so bold. There are so many flat-heads managing cattle companies. The son-in-law of the president is appointed superintendent, and what he doesn't know about cattle would make a very large book. And there you are!'
The boy briefly answered the letter. The two trusty men went their way. While riding home, conjecture was rife with Joel. What did the letter mean? The boy had a vague idea that the firm might be looking for a foreman.
Sargent took a broader view. 'The fact that this commission house is uneasy,' said he, letter in hand, 'shows that there's money involved. Capital is a timid thing. It will rush into a wild-cat venture, and break its neck trying to get out. Whoever financed this cattle company would like to see his money again. That's my guess.'
'Do you remember those two fellows from the Arickaree who started on the round-up with us?' inquired Joel. 'Manly had an idea that they might have been in the employ of this cattle company. Do you remember the brands?'
'Yes, some half-dozen,' replied the foreman. 'Any ranch they represented ought to be uneasy. I'll venture that we saw over five hundred stray cattle in their brands, and no one had authority to gather the drift. A widow woman might run a ranch that way, but cowmen -- well, they must be poor, weak sisters!'
The month of June was nearing its end when a special messenger arrived at the Wells Ranch. He carried a telegram from the old factor. Major Hunt, to the brothers, urging them to come into the city at once. Dell was impatient to start the same evening, but Joel and Sargent weighed the situation to a fraction.
'You must go with us,' said the older boy to the foreman. 'I'm liable to act too slow or too hasty, but you have the years and the caution. You can look a cow in the face and tell what's on her mind. I want you along.'
Sunrise found all three on their way. On reaching the city, the discovery was made that they were hardly presentable, but lack of pocket money compelled economy. On the range, dress ran to the extremities, to the most expensive boots and hats, while the remainder was a matter of indifference.
'Let's make it a haircut all around,' said Sargent. 'Then a new shirt apiece, a collar and a tie, and we'll just splash into the office and ask for the Major. We can drop our ragged coats off the bridge, and blow in on them in our shirt-sleeves. We'll not need our coats again this summer, anyhow.'
The programme of the foreman was adopted. The boys were expected at the office, and were hailed on their appearance. Major Hunt took each by the hand, and, after a few personal inquiries, led the way to his private office. On the part of the office force, the foreman observed a marked courtesy, which convinced him that an emergency existed, something urgent, which was unnoticed by the boys. Bankruptcy was almost written in the faces of the others.
'I have sent for you,' said Major Hunt, 'to hold a council. This cattle company on the Arickaree has been using a large amount of outside funds. We have acted as agents in placing loans, including some of our own capital. Up to within a year or so the company seemed to be working on a sound basis, but recently some alarm has been felt over the money advanced. This spring we have gone so far as to take an invoice of the company holdings. It was completed last week, after the spring round-up was over, and the cattle tallied out twenty-five hundred short. No one seems to know head from tail, and the creditors must look to their own protection.'
The old factor went into all the details at hand. 'We know the holdings of the company; its original numbers, young cattle purchased within two years, its shipments, and here is this big shortage. The ranch offers the excuse that it was not equipped with saddle horses to cover all the round-ups. But that is locking the stable after the horse is stolen. They ought to have bought fewer cattle and more horses. The creditors now face a loss. The company offers to make an assignment. But its liability is limited to its original capital.'
'Can we help you in any way?' inquired Joel.
'We have just had your recent report, confirmed by Mr. Stoddard, regarding the winter on the Beaver, the result of the round-up, and your outlook for marketable beef this fall. Cattle on the Beaver and the Arickaree ought to fare alike during a winter. How do you account for this big shortage on the North Fork of the Republican?'
Joel glanced at Sargent. 'In many ways,' answered the latter. 'The company may work a sorry outfit. Or it may be the big auger, the superintendent.'
'Now you're coming close,' said the old man. 'The company changed managers two years ago, and its downfall dates from that hour.'
'That often happens,' observed the foreman. 'We came home with our winter drift. And it was no light one. We don't indulge in any red tape at our ranch, but we can account for every Lazy H steer turned over to us last fall.'
'Have you a list of this company's brands?' inquired Dell.
'One minute,' said the senior member, excusing himself and leaving the room.
'Don't ask too many questions,' whispered Sargent to the brothers. 'Let the old man do the talking. He's worried twice as much as you are already. Leave the brands to me.'
Major Hunt returned, handing a list of the brands to Dell. The latter merely glanced over them, passing the memorandum on to the foreman. The latter read them aloud. 'We met some of these brands,' said he, 'on the spring round-up. Why, this company was represented. Their men threw in with our wagon for over a week. They were looking for a poker game, though, instead of these brands. I recognize the outfit now. Small wonder if they didn't catch their winter drift. If they had been half as active as the rustlers were, they wouldn't be as short as many cattle.'
'Now you're throwing light on the situation,' commented the old factor. 'Now you're confirming my suspicions. The winter drift was heavy, a regular harvest for rustlers. That's what worries me. Twenty-five hundred cattle astray!'
Major Hunt fairly paced the room. Several times he paused, as if on the point of speaking, then resumed his walk. 'Well,' finally said he, picking up the broken thread, 'there's no use crying over spilt milk. It occurred to me that you boys were in a position to take over this unfortunate company. The two ranges are not so far apart but that one management would cover both. You are making a success maturing beef, and there seems to be no good reason why you should not enlarge your business. Here's a chance to prove neighbor unto us.'
'Oh, if you need a foreman,' spoke up Sargent, 'I can get you an all-round cowman. Good men are plentiful. All you need is cow-sense to pick them.'
'That's what I'm trying to do now,' protested the old factor, 'trying to get these boys to help me drop a hot iron. We're merely factors in the business, not ranchmen; we're a necessary link in the chain. What I want to do is to sell the holdings of this company outright to Wells Brothers.'
'Oh, now I catch your idea,' said the foreman, meditating with assumed innocence.
Joel turned away. 'Our credit is under a heavy strain just now,' said he. 'We won't buy a cow until after the beef shipping ends. Mr. Stoddard comes first--'
'Mr. Stoddard has recommended you. He is one of the creditors of this unfortunate company.'
'The brothers looked from one to the other and turned to Sargent. A loss to Mr. Stoddard came like a call to fight fire, threatening a neighbor's house. 'Of course,' stammered Joel, 'if Mr. Stoddard is liable to lose--'
'Give us a line on the situation,' said the foreman, alert and eager. 'We'll throw a rope to Uncle Dudley any day.'
The old man went into the details of the company's affairs. Its assets called for ten thousand cattle, a remuda of seventy-five saddle horses, twenty sections of land, ranch equipment, comfortable quarters, stabling, and line-camps.
'The land was so taken as to cover fifteen miles of the Arickaree,' he explained, 'which gives you control of the water. The cattle in hand, given a year's time, without interest, will pay the liabilities. You must look for your profit in the cattle adrift. If you're cowmen, here's your chance.'
Sargent thrilled at the challenge in the old man's voice. 'My brother claims to be a cowman,' he admitted 'and these boys hope to be some day. Give us a little time to talk it over among ourselves, and we'll drop in this afternoon. Your offer is the ranch outright for its debts to date. Your guarantee is that there are seventy-five hundred cattle in hand, at present, on the ranch.'
'Our recent tally shows those numbers,' asserted Major Hunt.
'Come on, boys,' said the foreman, turning on his heel. 'We'll be back this afternoon.'
The three practical ones passed out of the room. Instead of returning to town, they wandered away through the cattle yards to a remote corner. Sargent smoothed the dust to a level, and with his finger drew a map of the Republican River.
'Here's your ranch on the Beaver,' said he, 'and about there is this other one on the Arickaree. Last winter's storms struck both alike, and the cattle drifted about the same course. Every hoof adrift can be picked up this fall during the beef round-ups. Mount and give me an outfit of fifteen men and I'll gather them for you. If you must make your profits out of the cattle adrift, they're there. I saw them! It's a snap, a cinch!'
'We owe for three thousand cattle now,' protested Joel.
'That's one ranch; this is another. A thousand beeves will pay every dollar the Beaver owes. Let every tub rest on its own bottom. I wouldn't give a whoop for a cowman who wouldn't strain his credit. These people are anxious to take a chance on you. They can't ride to the front and we can. Chances like this one don't come every day. Pick this one up. Take a chance. It's an ill wind that don't blow some one home. If it's an honest failure, there's a fortune in those cattle astray.'
'It would all depend on gathering the cattle astray,' meditated the older boy.
'Take the chance,' urged the foreman. 'You have the time and the horses. You're not buying a pig in a sack. We can go to the Arickaree and tally the cattle for ourselves. No one can sell us a lost or salted mine. This is a cattle deal, and we're supposed to be cowmen. The original capital of this company is wiped out, lost. Possibly we can find the leakage.'
Joel was the only cautious one of the trio. The liabilities were heavy, and the inducement of a year without interest, on any balance unpaid, was little incentive to the risk involved. They sauntered back through the yards, Dell and Sargent enthusiastic, with the older boy protesting every step.
During the early afternoon the trio returned to the office. 'All we will agree to do,' said Joel to Major Hunt, 'is to go to the Arickaree and tally out the cattle in sight. After that we can talk to you.'
'And if we can see a cow, or a horse, or an acre of land above the debts, we'll tackle your ranch,' added the foreman. 'If we ain't cowmen, we'll do until you can send for the real thing.'
'That's the talk I like to hear,' said the old factor aggressively. 'After you pass on the cattle in hand, let me know. We're not trying to saddle a dead horse on any one. This is a case of standing together and coming out on top together. Mr. Stoddard has faith in you, and I have faith in the ability of you boys to ride to the front and turn failure to success. If any one can do it, you can. Stretch forth your hand and save us.'
'We can try it,' frankly said Dell.
The three turned toward the door. 'The deal depends,' said Joel, 'on how the cattle count out on the Arickaree. If they come up to expectations, we'll take the ranch and its holdings.'
All turned back and shook hands with Major Hunt. The old man was touched, so helpless was he, but in the spoken word of two boys and their foreman, hope rested.