Presented is the book of Western Verse, "Corral Dust", by Bob Fletcher 1934, drawings by Shorty Shope. Robert H. Fletcher, was a Western poet and writer perhaps best know as the uncredited writer of the lyrics to Cole Porter 's song, “Don't Fence Me In." His writings included a novel on the early days in the Montana cattle business, “From Free Grass to Fences.” Formerly of Butte, Montana, Fletcher moved to Helena, Montana to work for the Montana Highway Department to promote tourism in Montana. In about 1935 he was instrumental in the creation of "Ports of Entry" at major highways entering Montana, where visitors were provided with information about Montana's history and points of interest. He became a student of Montana history, and with that background he wrote the text for a series of historical markers displayed throughout Montana in the mid-1930s. Several compilations of those markers have been published. In the 1950s he was commissioned by the Montana Cattlemen's Association to write a history of the cattle industry in Montana titled "Free Grass to Fences." He was an early "cowboy poet". The book is in very nice condition, embossed leather cover has gold gilt ltitle above the illustraton of a saddle sitting on a fence top rail, very slight scuffing on covers and spine, age tanning and slight foxing to intact pages throughout. Measures 6.25"W x 9.25"L.