During the drought of 1886-87, many cattlemen of this part of the county were forced to move their cattle from this part of the country to other spots for grass.  Jere B. Hart took his to the Double Mountain country near Snyder and it was some time before they could be returned here.  Members of the family remember the days of gathering up the cattle and how the bawl of the animals sounded when they were being held pending the gathering of the remnants before leaving.

The trip was made and later, Mr. Hart returned to his home here leaving George Smith in charge of the cattle there.  Among the horses he left with the cow hands was a blaze-faced bay horse named Chalk.  He was a good cowpony and his stamina made him doubly valuable to his owner.

When time came to return the cattle to Palo Pinto County, Chalk could not be found.  Searching was to no avail and it was concluded that he would be seen no more.  He was simply gone.  Since nothing could be done about it, they returned, bringing the cattle and nothing more was heard of the horse at that time.

A few years afterward, late one evening the family was gathered on the front porch and they heard the neigh of a horse.  Mr. Hart said, "That sounds like old Chalk."  The neighing didn't stop but kept coming closer and closer.  In a few moments, a horse was seen coming along the cattle trail down a steep hill in front of the house.  When he got near enough to see clearly, sure enough, it was Chalk.  A whistle from his owner made the horse break into a trot and also took the owner toward the horse.  When they met, it was like the meeting of old friends, they were so happy to be together again.

The horse bore brands all over him.  These brands were recognized as belonging to ranch outfits in New Mexico and Arizona, but it was never known how he got home.  Perhaps he was stolen and sold and began his wanderings, but being a loyal breed he would not have gone away of his own accord.  But how did he get home?  The best guess was that someone had brought him into the country that he recognized and that he found his way home from there.  He lived to be quite old but was never neglected by his owner.