The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-10-11
SELECT STORY.
FOLLOWED.

road, which was then pushing through
Northern Nebraska into the adjacent
Territory of Wyoming.
We were doing some heavy grading
and rock work, and with n large force
were pushing the work day and night
in order to get out of tie way of the
track, which had then advanced to
point within days ride of US.
We had to let pay day slip by with
out paying the men, and hoped to salts
fly them by the issue OF time checks
until the track should overtake us, and
our money could come to us with little
risk on the construction train. But,
three or four days after "paying off "
time, some of the men began to grow
suspicious and to grumble, and threat
ened to quit work until their checks
were csshed. They were afraid we
might somehow slip up on them and
they wouldn't get their money.
As we we're in desperate need of
every available hand, it was necessary |
that the men should be satisfied. So |
it was determined that l should go to |
Chadron, our supply base and banking
point, and bring up enough money to
pay the men their last months wages,
which amounted to about four thous-
and dollars.
I decided to go alone. set out
that night on horseback, and reached
the send of track" at Crawford siding
the next morning in time to leave my
horse at neighboring ranch corral,
and get aboard supply train which
had just unloaded, and was now going
back.
At Chadron the supply store of the
main contractor, huge, roughly built
shed, stood at side track about forty
rods from the main street of the town.
Here ! was accustomed to order sup
Plies, 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. A crowd of railroad laborers
were waiting before his window to get
their time checks cashed, or secure
passes to go up or down the road. l
noticed that two of these men were
better dressed than the others, but
thought nothing of the circumstance.
awaited my turn at the window,
and handed the book-keeper slip of
paper on which was written, "Four
thousand three hundred and forty-seven
dollars and fifty cents, Pay Roll-Rod-
4 nau opI rnr,,a H. v,,oIo ,,,a N Iraft
for the amount named, folded it care
lessly, thrust it through the window,
and took the receipt which l had Just
written, and then turned to tho next
man.
As left the store passed the two
men whom had noticed at the win
dow, and it struck me, upon more
attentive view, that they were rather
sharpers than workingmen, although l
had seen them cash two time. checks,
and get passes for some point up the
road. The construction train did not
leave until 8 o'clock that afternoon,
and / lounged upon the shady stoop
of the Cbadron House watching the
passers by and chatting with the land
lord, who was an old acquaintance of
mine when lived IN the East. / had
pleasant dinner with him, and after
the meal was finished, l walked across
the square to Lake 81 Haley's Bank, a,
the corner of the two principal streets
of the town, where cashed the draft
The bills / received l stuffed into
various side pockets of my clothes, and
slowed sack of silver change into 6
small leather ''grip" which l carried il
my hand.
/ heard locomotive whistle and
turning walked quickly out of the bank
As | reached the sidewalk, l wat
startled to see the two men who haG
before attracted my notice step rather
hastily away from the sidewalk II
front of the bank windows, and wall
across the street.
/ was satisfied that they had watch
ed me as 1 cashed my draft. My sus
sicions were thoroughly aroused by
this circumstance, and when, an houl
later, l stepped into the caboose of thu
construction train, and discovered thu
men lounging upon two cracker barrels
smoking their pipes, it did not neet
their evident avoidance of the direc
stare gave them,the moment enteret
to convince me that they were aftel
me.
Il / now heartily berated myself fo
not having exercised greater caution
while at Chadron. l should hav,
waited until i could see the book
keeper alone before l obtained m,
check, and should have had my casl
made up by the clerk at the bank
and brought tn my room at the hotel
as might easily have been done. Blu
it is easy enough, after you have don
a foolish thing, to think how mucl
better you might have managed it.
While l sat upon one of the hant
benches in the caboose, with my "grip
lying beneath the seat, considere,
how | should dodge the two fellow
, at Crawford. There was no dapge
that should be robbed on the train
as there were at least twenty passeI
gers on board Presently one of tn
men sauntered up to my seat, sat dow
by me, ana began TO talk.
"Seei" said he, "You're with Rodne
an Curtis, amt yeh, one O. their for'
men!"
answered carelessly that l was
their employment.
"Paul n rs goin' up the road lool
in fur rock job. We're striker
Could ye hire us, dye thinki'
Certainly" said l, I'VE need MOI
badly, especially good strikers. Wi
give you two dollars day, and 70
can work a part of the night shift,
you like"
Then, as unooncenedly as coul'
l went on to tell him about our worl
and directed him how to find our hea'
quarters. l told him / should lea,
\ Crawford after breakfast the ne,
= morning on horseback, and that he al
his partner could undoubtedly find
freight wagon there on which to tai
passage for our camp.
al After some further conversation wit