A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



in a car or buggy than have her go three blocks alone 

 in a city." 



When I take a bunch of cowboys with me to a 

 hotel or cafe, where the service is "classy," I do not 

 think of asking them what they will have, but look 

 over the bill of fare, and pick out what I think that 

 they like, ordering it for myself, and then, turning 

 to them, ask, "What will you boys have?" "Same 

 for me." They will go back home and laugh about 

 the mistakes they made using the wrong silver, and 

 drinking out of finger bowls, but if one of them were 

 conscious of attracting attention he would die of 

 mortification. 



As to superstition, an incident occurred in my first 

 year which will best illustrate it. We had carried 

 over some cattle, and had an unusual number to de- 

 liver, trailing them mainly to the Tongue River 

 Ranch, lOO miles distant, and thence 60 miles to 

 Estelline. I was in the field constantly, and often 

 stayed with the outfits weeks at a time. I had said 

 to them when I came, "Boys, I am soft, and I do 

 not know muph about this big pasture game, but I 

 do know something about breeding and selling. Take 

 me on faith until I make good, and let's do team- 

 work. Some day I will ride as fast and as far as 

 any of you." It was a go, but they couldn't help 

 having their fun. I got some pretty rough-gaited 

 horses and on the round was often sent with some 

 crazy rider. After an especially hard ride over rough 



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