Cowmen and Rustlers: A Story of the Wyoming Cattle Ranges

ing else, which almost ma

in sight, coming from the direction of the cattle-ranges. They were approa

ahead to break the news to

"you have not told

mother, as if to shut out all evil t

hurt worse than Fred," was the alarmin

rse? Tell us, tell us

t he got it bad; fact is he c

er his shoulder, as if to avoid those yearning eyes fixed upon him. That aim

be brave. Bear it as he would bear the n

to save her from falling. Her own heart was breaking, but she did her utmost, poo

e have Fred left to us, and I am

nd was tenderly borne homeward, where he was given a decent burial, his grave bedewed not only by the tears of the stricken wi

ecessary to explain th

he late troubles caused cattle and horse-thieves to unite against the legitimate owners, and the name now includes both classes of evil-doers. The troubles in Wyo

r own brands. They did not act in concert, and since the laws of the State require every brand to be registered, in order to establish ownership, the rust

e cattle. The mavericks are allowed to go to the outfit with whose

heir operations to the mavericks, began altering brands. Not only that, but they were

e a rule that no cow outfit should employ a cowman that had been guilty of branding a maverick, or of helping the rustlers, or of working with or for them. A blacklist

go, St. Louis, Kansas City and St. Paul. Every shipment of cattle was closely inspected, and if it came from a rustler he was obliged to prove his title to each steer, or they were co

le or drive to Montana. The latter recourse was not only difficult and dangerous, but there was no certaint

tlers. They employed a number of butchers at Buffalo to do their killing for

round-ups, and worked the round-up just as if they were a regular Association

ng pony is as a child in their hands. There is not one among them who cannot rope, throw, tie and brand a steer single-handed. They include the best riders