A Texas cow boy
Charles A. Siringo
(RareBooksClub.com, May 10, 2012)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 Excerpt: ...the ones we were riding. On our arrival in Dodge I pulled out for Chicago, to get a settlement, with the first train load we shipped. I took my saddle, bridle, spurs, etc. along and left them in Atchison, Mo., the first point we stopped to feed at, until my return. Arriving in Chicago, I told Mr. Beals that I was going home to spend the winter, and therefore wanted to settle up. He set 'em up to a fine Havana and then proceeded. Every time he came to one of those big bills, which caused the Deacon's eyes to bulge out, he would grunt and crack about a forty-cent smile, but never kicked. When he had finished there was a few hundred dollars to my credit. He then asked me if I could think of anything else that I had forgotten to charge the "company" with? Of course I couldn't, be-cause I didn't have time; his question was put to me too sudden. If I could have had a few hours to myself, to figure the.thing up just right, I think I could have satisfied the old Gent. I remained in the city three days taking in the sights and feeding the hungry little boot blacks. When leaving, Mr. Beals informed me that he was going to buy a lot of southern Texas cattle, to put on his Panhandle ranch, the coming spring, and if I wanted a job, to hold myself in readiness to boss one of the herds up the trail for him. Of course that just suited me, providing I couldn't make up my mind to remain ai home. Landing in Nickerson I hired a horse and went out to the old granger's ranch where I had left my two ponies. They were both fat and feeling good. Before starting out on my little journey of only eleven hundred miles, I bought a pack-saddle and cooking outfit--that is, just a frying pan, small coffee pot, etc. I used the mare for a pack animal and rode Whisky-peet. I had jus...