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.

The Water Holes referred to consisted of a pond in a depression of the prairie, and two shallow wells from which there was a never failing supply.

J. F. Raymond of Scottsbluff, and H. J. Raymond of Sidney were two of the early grangers of the table north of Sidney. They hauled water twelve miles from the Water

Holes to their claims, until they had a well put down. The water at the "Holes" was so distasteful, a number of grangers decided on cleaning the wells. They met at an appointed date, and found their opinions justified. A number of dead skunks and jack rabbits were removed, and the wells thoroughly cleaned.

Just as they were finishing the work Sim Laing arrived from Sidney with "plenty on board." He also had picked up an old human derelict at Sidney, in an impulse of sentiment, and was taking him out to the ranch. Laing swung into the Water Holes with a whoop, drove his mustangs across the depression and up the slope and nearly into one of the uncovered wells.