The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-09-28

ChadrOn, our supply Dase ana DAnklns point, anu bring up enough money to pay the men their last months wages, which amounted to about four thousand dollars.
 decided to 20 alone. I set out that night on horseback, and I reached the 'end of track" at Crawford siding the next morning in time to leave my horse at a neighboring horse corral, and get aboard 6 supply train which had just unloaded, and was now going back.
 At Chadron the supply store of the main con- tractor, huge, roughlybuilt shed, stood at sde- track about forty rods from the main street of the town. Here l was accustomed to order supplies and get drafts for money from the book keeper from time to time
 That morning, after finishing my business with the supply department, l went to the book keeper to procure a draft. crowd of railroad labor CTS were waiting before his window to get their time-checks cashed, or secure passes to go up or down the road I noticed that two of these men were better dressed than the others but thought nothing of the circumstance
 l awaited my turn at the window, and handed the book keeper a slip of paper on which was written: "Four thousand three hundred and forty seven dollars and fifty cents, pay roll-Rod- ney and Curtis" He made me @ draft for the amount named, folded it carelessly, thrust 1t through the window, and took the receipt which lh8d just written and then turned to the next man.
 As left the store passed the two men whom had noticed at the window, and 1t struck me- upon more attentive view, that they were rather sharp CTS than workingmen, although had seen them cash two checks and get pssses for point up the road. The construction train did not leave until three o'clock that afternoon, and lounged upon the shady stoop of the Chadron house watch ing the psssersby and chatting with the landlord, who was an old acquaintance of mine when lived in the east. had pleasant dinner with him, and after the meal was finished 1 walked across the square to Lake Haley's bank at the corner of the two principal streets of the town, where l cashed the draft
 The bills which received stuffed into various side pockets of my clothes and slowed a sack of silver change into a small leather "grip" which carried in my hand.
 heard a locomotive whistle and turning walked quickly out of the bank. As I reached the side- walk was startled to see the two men who had before attracted my notice step rather hastily away from the sidewalk in front of the bank windows and walk across the street.
 was satisfied that they had watched me as cashed my draft. My suspicious were thoroughly aroused by this circumstance and when, an hour later stepped into the caboose of the construction train and discovered the men loungiDg upon two cracker barrels smoking their pipes 1t did not need their evident avoidance of the direct stare gave them, the moment entered, to convince me that they were after me.
 now heartily berated my self for not having ercised greater caution while at Chadron. should have waited until could see the book keeper alone before I obtained my check, and should have had my cash made up by the clerk at the bank and brought to my room at the hotel, as might easily have been done. But it is easy enough, after you have done foolish thing, to think how much bet ter you might have managed it.
 While sat upon one of the hand benches in the caboose, with my "grip" lying beneath the seat, l considered how I should dodge the two fellows at Crawford. There was no danger that l should be robbed on the train, there were st least twenty passengers on board. Presently one of the men sauntered up to my seat, sat down by me, and be- gan to talk.
 "See?" said he, "you're with Rodney an Curtis, aint yeh, one O their foremen?" answered carelessly that was in their employ ment
 "Paul n Ps goin' rp the road lookin' fur rock job. We're strikers. Could ye hire us, dye think2"
 "Certainly," said I, "we need more badly, espe-