Chapter 12
Clear Fork and ShenandoahI arrived home in good time for the fall work. The first outfit
relieved at Wichita had instructions to begin, immediately on
reaching the ranch, a general cow-hunt for outside brands. It was
possible that a few head might have escaped from the Clear Fork
range and returned to their old haunts, but these would bear a
tally-mark distinguishing them from any not gathered at the spring
delivery. My regular ranch hands looked after the three purchased
brands adjoining our home range, but an independent outfit had been
working the past four months gathering strays and remnants in
localities where I had previously bought brands. They went as far
south as Comanche County and picked up nearly one hundred "Lazy
L's," scoured the country where I had pu
