of us were fully aware. The credit of Don Lovell was gilt edge,
not that he was a wealthy cowman, but the banks and moneyed men
of the city recognized his business ability. Nearly every year
since he began driving cattle, assistance had been extended him,
but the promptness with which he had always met his obligations
made his patronage desirable.

Flood and I had a number of errands to look after for the boys on
the ranch and ourselves, and, like countrymen, reached the depot
fully an hour before the train was due. Not possessed of enough
gumption to inquire if the westbound was on time, we loitered
around until some other passengers informed us that it was late.
Just as we were on the point of starting back to town, Lovell
drove up in a hack, and the three of us paced the platform until
the arrival of the belated train.

"Well, boys, everything looks serene," said our employer, when we
had walked to the farther end of the depot. "I can get all the
money I need, even if we shipped part way, which I don't intend
to do. The banks admit that cattle are a slow sale and a shade
lower this spring, and are not as free with their money as a year
or two ago. My bankers detained me over an hour until they could
send for a customer who claimed to have a very fine lot of beeves
for sale in Lasalle County. That he is anxious to sell there is
no doubt, for he offered them to me on my own time, and agrees to
meet any one's prices. I half promised to come back next week and
go down with him to Lasalle and look his cattle over. If they
show up right, there will be no trouble in buying them, which
will complete our purchases. It is my intention, Jim, to give you
the herd to fill our earliest delivery. Our next two occur so