The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-10-22

hl@In contractor, huge, roughly
bulit she'd stood at a 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 bookkeeper from time to
time.
mat morning, after finishing my
business with the supply department,
L 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 go up or down the road.
notlced 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 bookkeeper a slip Of
paper on which was written, -Four
thousand three hundred and forty
seven dollars and fifty cents, PAY Roll
Rodney & Curtis. He made me a
draft Tor the amount named, folded it
carelessly, thrust it through the win
dow, and took the receipt which had
just written, and then turned to the
next man
AS l left the store | passed the two
men whom | had noticed at the win
dow, and it struck me- upon a 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 o'clock that afternoon,
and lounged upon the shady stoop of
the Chadron house watching the pass
ers by and chatting with the landlord,
who was an old acquaintance of mine
when | lived in the east. | had a
pleasant dinner with him, and after
the meal was finished, | walked across
the square to Lake & Haley's bank at
the corner of the two principal streets
of the town, where | cashed the draft.
The bills which received l 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 | reached the sidewalk, |
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 watch
ed me as l cashed my draft. My sus-
plcions were thoroughly aroused by
this circumstance, and when, an hour
later, | stepped into the caboose Of the
construction train, and discovered the
men lOunging upon two cracker bar
rels smoking their pipes, it did not
need their evident avoidance of the
direct stare | gave them, the moment
l entered, to convince me that they
were after me.
| now heartily berated myself for
not having exercised greater caution
while at Chadron. should have
waited until could see the bookkeep
er alone before | 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
better you might have managed it.
While | sat upon one of the hand
benches in the caboose, with my
grip lying beneath the seat, | con
sidered 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 sauntered up to my seat
sat down by me, and began to talk.
Seer" said he You're with Rod
ney an Curtis, amt yeh, one O their
fOremenT
l answered carelessly that was in
their employment
Paul n Is goin' up the road look
in fur a rock job. We're strikers
Could We hire us, dye think2"
Certainly" said l. 1--WE need more
men badly, especially good strikers
We will give you two dollars day:
and you can work part Of the night
shift, if you like
Then, as unconcernedly as / could,
went on to 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
to 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
to the conlpany's tent, where food and
other supplies brought on the con
structiOn trains We're stored until they
could be shipped forward by wagon
To points where our forces were at
work. There ! explained the situation
to the two clerks in charge Of the tent,
and SAID that | wished To spend the
night with them.
was armed with good ''slN
shooter" and the clerks had each q
light Winchester rifle. They SAID We
could guard the money withou:
trouble that night, and it was ar
ranged that should start for the