The section homestead act went into effect, and he was one of the men who saw its possibilities under the older lax methods of the land office department, and a number of men who settled around him were supposed to have contracts to deed him the land after acquiring title. He was indicted on the federal charge of conspiracy to defraud the government, at the same time that Bartlett Richards and others were in the same trouble.

The case against him was finally dismissed, and he continued to enjoy the fruits of successful ranching, alternating between the Burlington and the Northwestern for an outlet for his product.

We are told now, that Mr. Yeast lives in splendid manner in Lincoln, while he also has a magnificent ranch in the far northwest, the newer country of Alaska.

Yeast came at the time that cattle kings were losing their scepters, and the ranges were breaking up into smaller fragments, and the smaller the unit the greater respect for law. This theory will hold good in any of the walks of life, or the industry of our country. The old cattlemen were not dishonest, but the very nature of their business made them adopt rules concerning "mavericks," and other rules that in effect took the property of others.

There came a time when all of this changed in western Nebraska, and also a time when courts reached out. There was a judge who wrote the law on the sunset sky, who by sheer courage compelled the wild west to lift its sombrero to the majesty of legal jurisprudence. Courage alone would not have done it, but integrity and justice took the place of mouldy statute, and silly precedent or decision. Judge Gaslin was the man.