The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-12-06
FOLLOWED.

FOLLOWED.
I was acting as Paymaster and Chief
Commissary Clerk for a firm of grade
sontraetors upon the Northwestern road.
which Ees then pushing through North
en Nebraska into the adjacent Territory
Of Wyoming.
We were doing some heavy grading
aad rock work, and with large force
were pushing the work day and night in
order to get out Of the way Of the track.
which bad then advanced to point with
III days ride of US.
We had let payday slip by without
E2ying the men, and hoped to satisfy
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
o. the men began TO grow suspicious and
70 grumble, and threatened 20 quit work
until their checks were cashed. They
were afraid we might somehow slip up
on them and they wouldn't get their
money.
As We were in desperate need of every
available hand, It was necessary that
the men should be satisfied. So
It was determined that l should 90 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 thousand
dollars.
decided to go eione. set out that
night on horseback, and I reached the
send Of track" at Crawford siding the
next morning in time to leave my horse
al neigboring ranch corral, and get
aboard a supply train which had Just
unioaded, and was now going back.
At chadron the supply store of the
man contractor, a huge, roughly built
she'd stood II a side track about forty
rods from the main street of the town.
Here 1 was accustomed TO order supplies,
and get drafts for money from the book
keeper from time to time
That morning, after finishing nv bust
ness with the supply department, went
to the book-keeper to procure q draft. A
crowd Of railroad laborers were waiting
before his window to get their time
checks ceshed, or secure passes to 20 IN
OF down the road. noticed that two
Of these men were better dressed than
the Others, but thought nothing of the
circumstance.
Iawaited 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-Rodney and |
Curtis . BE made ne draft for the
amount named, folded It earelessly, |
thrust It through the window, and took I
the receipt which had Just written, and
then turned to the next man
As left the store 1 passed the two men
whom had noticed at the window, and
it struck me, upon more attentive view,
that they were rather sharpers than work
ingmen, although I had seen them cash
tyTo time-cheeks, and get passes for some /
point up the road. The construction train
did not leave until o'clock that after
moon, and lounged upon the shady stoop /
Of the Chadron House watching the /
passers-by and chatting with the landlord,
who was an old acquaintance of mine !
when ] lived in the East. l had pleas
ant 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 I received I stuffed into vari- /
Gus side pockets fmy clothes, and slowed |
q sack Of silver change into small leather (
sgrip" which I carried in nv hand.
heard a locomotive whistle and, turn /
ing walked quickly out Of the bank AS I
/ reached the sidewalk, was startled to
see the two men who had before attracted |
ny notice step rather hastily away /
from the sidewalk in front Of the bank |
windows, and walk across the street.
Twas satisfied that they had watched /
NE as 1 cashed my draft Ny suspicious
were thoroughly aroused by tins circum-
stance, and when, an hour later, l /
stepped into the caboose of the construc-
ton train, and discovered the men loung
ing upon two cracker barrels smoking |
their pipes, it 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 ber-ted myself for not /
having exercised greater caution while at |
Chsdron. I should have waited until 1 |
could see the bookkeeper alone before 1 /
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 fool
ISL thing, to think how much better you
might have managed it.
While sat upon one of the hand /
benches In the caboose, with my ''grip" |
lying beneath the seat, I considered how [
! should dodge the two fellows at Craw-
ford. There was no danger that should 4
be robbed on the train, as there were at /
least twenty passengers on board. Pres
entity one OF the men sauntered up to my /
seat, sat down by me, and began TO
talk
"seeg" said he, "You're with Rodney /
an Curtis, amt yeh, one o their fore
nnensn
answered oarelessly that was in
their employment.
Paul n rs goin' up the road lookin' |
fur rock JOB. We're strikers. Could /
re hire US, dye thinkl"
Certainly, said /, 1--WE need more /
badly, especially good strikers. VIII /
give you two dollars day, and you can
work part of the night shift, if you
like "
Then, as unconcernedly as / could, l
went on 10 tell him about our work, and
directed him how to find our headquar-