Middleton became an outlaw that made his a name that ranks high in importance. He knew the location of more good horses than any man on the western ranee, and he could take them from the South Platte to Cheyenne river in less time than any other. The organization of the cattlemen's association of Wyoming and western Nebraska, was brought into active use in bringing him to justice. This was co-operated in by the United States Government.

John Bratt wrote me sometime before his death, that he was one of the ten men who put in one hundred dollars each, to hire Billy- Likens to bring him in, dead or alive. Billy went after him, and had several brushes in western Nebraska, and one in particular on the Niobrara, where both were clipped in the gun melee. But Likens finally landed his man, alive, and he served a term for his misdeeds.

After that he returned to the old range and spent his declining years at Ardmore, in the drug business. Doc. would close his store any day that a bunch of horses came to town, and go out and size them up. He loved a horse.

Some years ago, when Jim Dahlman was candidate for governor, and I was looking futilely towards the seat of Moses Kincaid in congress, we met the old grizzled wolf, Middleton, at Crawford, and he rode with us to Chadron. I looked out at the pine ridges that are visible to the south from this highway, and thought of the old days when Middleton knew every canyon and gulch, and where were the best hiding places for horses. In my blithesome way, I suggested that if the auto played out Middleton might know where there were horses to pull us in. In some way, I received an impression that the pleasantry was not appreciated, but there was no serious aversion to it.