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wn； I turned and rode back with them for fully a mile。
Splann was acting under orders from Flood； who had met him at the ford that morning。 If the cattle were in the possession of any deputy sheriff； they had failed to notify Jack； and the latter had already started for the North Platte of his own accord。 The 〃Drooping T〃 cattle were in the immediate rear under Forrest's segundo； and Splann urged me to accompany him that forenoon； saying： 〃From what the boys said this morning； Dave and Paul will not be given a hearing until two o'clock this afternoon。 I can graze beyond the North Fork by that time； and then we'll all go back together。 Flood's right behind here with the 'drooping T's；' and I think it's his intention to go all the way to the river。 Drop back and see him。〃
The boys who were with me never halted； but had ridden on towards town。 When the second herd began the ascent of the mesa； I left Splann and turned back； waiting on the brink for its arrival。 As it would take the lead cattle some time to reach me； I dismounted； resting in the shade of my horse。 But my rest was brief； for the clattering hoofs of a cavalcade of horsemen were approaching； and as I arose； Quince Forrest and Bob Quirk with a dozen or more men dashed up and halted。 As their herds were intended for the Crow and Fort Washakie agencies； they would naturally follow up the south side of the North Platte； and an hour or two of grazing would put them in camp。 The Buford cattle； as well as Flood's herd； were due to cross this North Fork of the mother Platte within ten miles of Ogalalla； their respective routes thenceforth being north and northeast。 Forrest； like myself； was somewhat leary of entering the town； and my brother and the boys passed on shortly； leaving Quince behind。 We discussed every possible phase of what might happen in case we were recognized； which was almost certain if Tolleston or the Dodge buyers were encountered。 But an overweening hunger to get into Ogalalla was dominant in us； and under the excuse of settling for our supplies； after the herd passed； we remounted our horses； Flood joining us； and rode for the hamlet。
There was little external and no moral change in the town。 Several new saloons had opened； and in anticipation of the large drive that year； the Dew…Drop…In dance…hall had been enlarged； and employed three shifts of bartenders。 A stage had been added with the new addition； and a special importation of ladies had been brought out from Omaha for the season。 I use the term LADIES advisedly； for in my presence one of the proprietors； with marked courtesy； said to an Eastern stranger； 〃Oh； no； you need no introduction。 My wife is the only woman in town； all the balance are ladies。〃 Beyond a shave and a hair…cut； Forrest and I fought shy of public places。 But after the supplies were settled for； and some new clothing was seen red； we chambered a few drinks and swaggered about with considerable ado。 My bill of supplies amounted to one hundred and twenty…six dollars； and when； without a word； I drew a draft for the amount； the proprietor of the outfitting store； as a pelon； made me a present of two fine silk handkerchiefs。
Forrest was treated likewise； and having invested ourselves in white shirts； with flaming red ties； we used the new handkerchiefs to otherwise decorate our persons。 We had both chosen the brightest colors； and with these knotted about our necks； dangling from pistol…pockets； or protruding from ruffled shirt fronts； our own mothers would scarcely have known us。 Jim Flood； whom we met casually on a back street； stopped； and after circling us once； said； 〃Now if you fellows just keep perfectly sober； your disguise will be complete。〃
Meanwhile Don Lovell had reported at an early hour to the sheriff's office。 The legal profession was represented in Ogalalla by several firms； criminal practice being their specialty； but fortunately Mike Sutton； an attorney of Dodge； had arrived in town the day before on a legal errand for another trail drover。 Sutton was a frontier advocate； alike popular with the Texas element and the gambling fraternity； having achieved laurels in his home town as a criminal lawyer。 Mike was born on the little green isle beyond the sea； and； gifted with the Celtic wit； was also in logic clear as the tones of a bell； while his insight into human motives was almost superhuman。 Lovell had had occasion in other years to rely on Sutton's counsel； and now would listen to no refusal of his services。 As it turned out； the lawyer's mission in Ogalalla was so closely in sympathy with Lovell's trouble that they naturally strengthened each other。 The highest tribunal of justice in Ogalalla was the county court； the judge of which also ran the stock…yards during the shipping season； and was banker for two monte games at the Lone Star saloon。 He enjoyed the reputation of being an honest； fearless jurist； and supported by a growing civic pride； his decisions gave satisfaction。 A sense of crude equity governed his rulings； and as one of the citizens remarked； 〃Whatever the judge said； went。〃 It should be remembered that this was in '84； but had a similar trouble occurred five years earlier； it is likely that Judge Colt would have figured in the preliminaries； and the coroner might have been called on to inpanel a jury。 But the rudiments of civilization were sweeping westward； and Ogalalla was nerved to the importance of the occasion； for that very afternoon a hearing was to be given for the possession of two herds of cattle； valued at over a quarter…million dollars。
The representatives of The Western Supply Company were quartered in the largest hotel in town； but seldom appeared on the streets。 They had employed a firm of local attorneys； consisting of an old and a young man； both of whom evidently believed in the justice of their client's cause。 All the cattle…hands in Lovell's employ were anxious to get a glimpse of Tolleston； many of them patronizing the bar and table of the same hostelry； but their efforts were futile until the hour arrived for the hearing。 They probably have a new court…house in Ogalalla now； but at the date of this chronicle the building which served as a temple of justice was poorly proportioned； its height being entirely out of relation to its width。 It was a two…story affair； the lower floor being used for county offices； the upper one as the court…room。 A long stairway ran up the outside of the building； landing on a gallery in front； from which the sheriff announced the sitting of the honorable court of Keith County。 At home in Texas； lawsuits were so rare that though I was a grown man； the novelty of this one absorbed me。 Quite a large crowd had gathered in advance of the hour； and while awaiting the arrival of Judge Mulqueen； a contingent of fifteen men from the two herds in question rode up and halted in front of the court…house。 Forrest and I were lying low； not caring to be seen； when the three plaintiffs； the two local attorneys； and Tolleston put in an appearance。 The cavalcade had not yet dismounted； and when Dorg Seay caught sight of Tolleston； he stood up in his stirrups and sang out； 〃Hello there； Archibald！ my old college chum； how goes it？〃
Judge Mulqueen ha