But a branch trail used by ranchmen and early travellers, left the Black Hills Road sixteen miles northwest of Sidney, at what was known as the "Water Holes." These holes are located about six or seven miles south and the same distance west of the present site of Dalton. This was the branch generally used by early grangers, and there 'was a drive of about twenty miles to "Lorren's" Fork and Laing's ranch. Sim had a brother, Guy, who was in business in North Platte, and who had an interest in the ranch.

Besides stocking the ranch with horses and cattle, they stocked the creek with brook trout which have flourished excellently, and they brought in and turned loose a pair of quails. From that beginning, are many little coveys of quail here and there all through the hills, and on the islands along the river. Most people have been very considerate, and have refrained from shooting them, but those on the islands west of Scottsbluff were nearly exterminated by the Japanese before they knew what value local people place upon the cheerful "Bob Whites."

Laing was one of the best of fellows, ordinarily, but he would go to Sidney frequently, and drink was about the easiest thing attainable in those days. When Sim got a full load of the fire water, he, who had done so much to make his ranch like the old homes back east, would imagine himself a very bad cattle king and with lots of hard feelings for the grangers.