Leaving the arrangement of the bonds to our silent partner, the
next day after the awards were announced we turned our faces to the
Southwest. February 1 was agreed on for the meeting at Fort Worth,
so picking up the wife and babies in Virginia, we embarked for our
Texas home. My better half was disappointed in my not joining in
the proposed cattle company, with its officers, its directorate,
annual meeting, and other high-sounding functions. I could have
turned into the company my two ranches at fifty cents an acre,
could have sold my brand outright at a fancy figure, taking stock
in lieu for the same, but I preferred to keep them private
property. I have since known other cowmen who put their lands and
cattle into companies, and after a few years' manipulation all they
owned
