212 AT THE SIGN OF THE STOCK YARD INN 



as "GIBSON'S things," were allowed upon the place. 

 RICHARD did not mean to be content, however, with 

 anything short of "tops," and after explaining at 

 length the highly interesting situation then existing 

 abroad as between the BOOTH and BATES tribes, and 

 after having pointed out that practically no speci- 

 mens of the former were then in the United States, 

 he was commissioned to proceed to England and 

 select ten head for importation. 



TOM BOOTH was then at the very climax of his 

 reputation as a breeder of champion cattle. The 

 famous bull Commander in Chief and the extraor- 

 dinary cow Lady Fragrant regarded by the critics 

 of that day as the most marvelous specimen of the 

 breed produced up to that date had just been made 

 British champions. It had never been the practice 

 at Warlaby, however, to part with females, and it 

 was only with the understanding that those put in 

 offer to Mr. GIBSON were to be taken out of the 

 country that any price could be had. Mr. GOCHRANE 

 had just paid the unprecedented figure of $5,000 

 for a Duchess heifer from Col. GUNTER, and as the 

 rivalry between the two great Shorthorn houses 

 was then at its very height Mr. BOOTH would take 

 no less than the same price for the fine show 

 heifer Bride of the Vale, that was particularly desired 



