Chapter 21
The Fruits of ConspiracyWith a loss of fully fifteen thousand cattle staring me in the
face, I began planning to recuperate the fortunes of the company.
The cattle convention, which was then over, was conspicuous by the
absence of all Northern buyers. George Edwards had attended the
meeting, was cautious enough to make no contracts for the firm, and
fully warned me of the situation. I was in a quandary; with an idle
treasury of over a million, my stewardship would be subject to
criticism unless I became active in the interests of my company. On
the other hand, a dangerous cloud hung over the range, and until
that was removed I felt like a man who was sent for and did not
want to go. The falling market in Texas was an encouragement, but
my experience of the previous w
