Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-10-12

Az Ciiailfon, n supply store OF the
main contractor, a huge, roughly
built shed stood at side track about
forty rods from the main street of the
town. Here | was accustomed to or
der supplies and get drafts for money
from the bookkecper from time TO
time.
That morning, after finishing my
business with the supply department,
/ went TO the bookkeeper to procure
a draft. A crowd of railroad laborers
were waiting before his window To get
their time checks cashed, or secure
passes to 70 up or down the road. !
noticed that two OF these men were
better dressed than the others, but
thought nothing of the circumstance.
lawaited my turn at the window,
and handed the bookkeeper n slip of
paper on which was written, -Four
thousand three hundred and forty
seven dollars aud fifty cents. Pay Roll
Rodney x Curtis" lie made me a
draft for the amount named, folded il
carclessly, thrust il through the win,
dow, and took the receipt which | had
just written, and then turned TO the
next man.
AS | left the store | passed the two
men whom ! mad noticed at the win
dow, and ii struck me, upon a more
attentive view, that they were rather
sharpcrs than workingmcn, although
| had seen them cash two time checks,
and got passes for some point up the
rold. The construction train did not
leave until 3 o'clock that afternoon,
aud | loungcd upon the shady stoop of
the ChadrOn house watching the pass
cFs 10y and chatting with the landlord,
who WAS IN old acquaintance OF mine
when | Lives. iu the east. | had 4
pleasant dinner with him, and after
the mali was finished. walked across
the Square TO Llae * liaIcy's bank at
the corner 81 the two principal streets
Of tue town, whHrC ! cus,I-a the draft.
The bills which ! received ! stuffed
into various side pockets Of ly
clolhC~, aud slowed q sack OF silver
change into IL small leather grip"
which carried in my hand.
heard a locomotive whistle and.
turning, walked quickly ont of the
bank. Is | reached the sidewalk, !
was startled t0 See the two men who
had rr.urr attracted my notice step
rather hastily away from the sidewalk
IN front oil The lauk windows. and
walk across tlg street.
| was satisfied that they had watch.
ed me rs | cashcl my draft My sus.
piciOuS were thoroughly aroused by
this circumstance, and when, an hour
later, | stepped into the cubDusc of the
construction train. and discovered the
me lyun%in@ upOn two cracker bar
rcis smoking Their pipus, it did not
need their evident avoidance Of The
direct stare ! gave them. the moment
] entered. o. convince me that they
wCPg alter me.
| now heartily bcrlted myself for
not having exercised greater caution
while al Cladrou. ] should have
waited until / could sec the bookkcep
err alone before /. obtained my check:
and should have had my cash made
up 10y the clerk 1t the bank, aud
brought 10 ms OU' ut the hotel, as
might easily have been done. But il
is easy enough. after you havedOue
a foolish thing, 10 think how much
better you might have managed it.
While | sat upon n OF the hand
benches in the caboose, with my
grip" lying beneath the seat, / con.
sidcrcd how | should dodge the two
fellows at Crawford. There was no
danger that ! should be robbed on the
train, as there were at least twenty
passengers on board. Presently one
Of the men sauntercd up to my seat,
sat down byme. and began 10 talk.
Seer said he. You're with Rod.
ney an Curtis, amt yeh, one o their
forenlcnf
| answered carelessly that / was in
their employment.
Paul MS goin' up the road look
in fur a rock job. Wore strikers.
Could sc hire us, dye Think
Certainly" said |. "we need more
men badly, especially good strikers.
We will give you two dollars a day,
and you can work a part Of tho night
shift if you like"
Then, rs unconcerncdly as | could,
| went on 10 tell him about our work.
and direct him how To find our head
quarters. | told him / should leave
Crawford after breakfast the next
morning on horseback, and that he
and his partner could undoubtedly
find a freight wagon there on which
10 take passage for our camp.
After some further conversation
with the mana young looking, wiry,
dark faced fellow-he went over TO
talk TO his ''pard." and no doubt they
congratulated themselves on his sue.
cess in throwing me of my guard.
On my arrival at Crawford | went
10 the company's tent, where food aud
other supplies brought on the con-
struction trains were stored until they
could be shipped forward by wagon
20 points where our forces were at
work. There / explained the situation
10 the two clerks in charge Of the tent,
and said that wished 10 spend the
night with them.
| was armed with a good six
shooter and the clerks had each "A
light Winchester rifle. They said we
could guard tie money without
trouble that night, and il was ar.
ranged that ! should start for the
grading camp at 3 O'Clock the next
morning. BY leaving at SO early an
hour | believed that | could battle
pursuit by any robbers who had con