The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-13
A TIMELY BLIZZARD.

A TIMELY BLIZZARD.
Narrow Escape from Five Robber
Cut-Throats.
"Allie. I'm going to the Junction to-
night, to get the money to pay the men
of. 1t will be cold. brisk ride. and q
long one. too; but. II you think you can
stand the journey, you can get ready
and go with me-
Stand the journey? Why, Of course
! can, especially when Bronco needs cx.
ercising. He's just full Of life, and he
wants to go, know. Don't you, old
fellow"
Allie patted his pony on the neck al
he addressed the last question to him.
Bronco raised his neat, shapely head.
and shook it threateningly as he uttered
q whinny that could be heard for half q
mile away.
He says yes. father. just as plain ~
II he could speak
Mr.. White, or BOSS" White, as the
men on the road called Allies father,
smiled at the enthusiasm of his boy.
Yes. Bronco is very intelligent. !
sometimes think he knows more than
half of these men working on the road.
He is truer friend to US. at any rate. "
A slight scowl disf1gured the mans
face as he spoke, and he cast q glance of
disapproyal at some low-browed, half
breed laborers near him. There was a
low, sneaking, cut-throat appearance
about many Of them that made one in
voluntarily shudder. Mr.. White was
the foreman of the advance party, that
was cutting railroad through q new.
wild section of the West. For three
months his party, consisting of about
fifty laborers, had been pushing their
way gradually through dense wilder
ness and rocky section of country. They
merely graded the land. while second
party followed them in the rear, to Law
the rails.
The junction" where Mr. White got
his money from the company to pay of
his men. was movable place. Once a
month he went to it to get funds for pay
day, and each time it was in different
spot. As fast as the rails were laid. and
the advance train able to run over them,
the junction was moved forward. In
fact, the junction" was simply the ad-
vance train. and a few tents and rude
huts scattered around it.
Allie had come ont to this Western
wilderness with his father for several
reasons. He had no mother or relatives
in the East, and he could not bear to be
left alone. After the road was once
laid. which would only take four or five
months, his father was to return East
again, to take up his permanent resi-.
dence. So. on the whole, Mr.. White
thought it good opportunity to give
his son some experience in ''roughing
It,"
Allie, like most boys OF his nature
soon learned to enjoy ''roughing it" He
had his pony. Bronco, fine specimen
OF Western stock: small Winches
ter rife, which he could use effectively
and Echo, . dog to which he was great,
attached. With these three companions
Game was abundant: every thing wa.
new and interesting to him: and tn,
climate healthy and invigorating.
Late in the afternoon Of that day. Mr.
White and Allie. with Bronco and Echo
left the camp for the Junction II
travelling to the junction" there was NJ
danger from highwaymen; but in return
ing to the camp with several thousand
dollars in his possession. Mr.. White al
ways felt that he was running . little
risk of being attacked by some of the
deserters He therefore, always started
for the junction" at night time, and
left for the camp again early next morn
ing.
The trail before them was plaiY
enough. The leyeling party had Gu
their way through deep forests. arount
the base of a range of hills. across mar
row plain, and through endless varieties
Of country. They had left their mari
behind them. SO that big, wide, rougl
turnpike seemed to run snake-like acros
country.
The riders reached the junction" lon,
before any of the laborers We're up.
was scarcely three in the morning. and
AS the moon had disappeared benin
some threatening clouds. every thin
was dark and gloomy. Echo was Ca,
TONED to keep quiet, and the two horse
men proceeded as noislessly as possible
After some accommodating in the darl
Mr.. White ascertained the Whereabout
OF the paymaster's section. 1t was clos
tothe long train, which had just brough
heavy load of steel rails to the cam,
With some difficulty the man was avail
ened.
The two then entered the small ter
and explained their visit. Mr.. Viii,
knew the paymaster well, and after pr,
sentiLg his draft for the amount
money necessary to pay of the men,
said:
II would like to get it now and sta
back for the camp before daylight. \
one has seen me enter your camp, and
is not necessary that they should. Mar
OF the men know the object Of my visi
here, and they might take it into the
heads to relieve me of the money ON u
way back"
"Yes, yes, you re quite right" repli'
the paymaster. ''Quite right. Some
the men are not very honest lookin
No, sir, not honest looking, and l mig
add-not safe looking. You're qui
right, Mr.. White
They entered the baggage car of Il
train, and were locked in. The mon,
was then counted out and put in ty
saddlebags, which were slung over Il
backs of the two horses.
1t was not quite four o'clock in Il
morning when every thing was rea.
and the return journey begun. IT
camp was still quiet when the t,
horsemen stole quietly away from it.
For two hours they rode along in
lencs, and then, having reached %