The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-02-08
A TIMELY BLIZZARD.
Narrow Escape from Five Robber
Cut-Throats.

"Allle, I'm going to the junction to-
night, to get the money to pay the men
off. 1t will be cold, brisk ride, and a
long one, too; but, if 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 ex-
ercising. He's just full of life, and he
wants to go, l know. Don't you, old
fellow?"
Allie patted his pony on the neck as
he addressed the last question to him.
Bronco raised his neat, shapely head,
and shook it threateningly as he uttered
a whinny that could be heard for half a
mile away.
HE says yes, father, just as plain as
if he could speak,
Mr.. White, or BOSS" White, as the
men on the road called Allies father,
smiled at the enthusiasm of his boy.
Eyes, Bronco is very intelligent. l
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 disfigured the mans
face as he spoke, and he cast glance of
disapproval 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 a railroad through 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 a second
party followed them in the rear, to lay
the rails.
The junction" where Mr.. White got
his money from the company to pay off
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 few tents and rude
huts scattered around it.
Allie had come out 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 il ''roughing
it,
Allie, like most boys of his nature,
soon learned to enjoy ''roughing it, He
had his pony, Bronco, a fine specimen
of Western stock; small Winches-
ter rifle, which he could use effectively;
and Echo, a dog to which he was greatly
attached. With these three companions,
the boy was never at loss for pleasure
Game was abundant; every thing was
new and interesting to hia; and the
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" In
travelling to the junction" there was no
danger from highwaymen; but in return
lug W GHe camp WIFI 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 plain
enough. The leveling party had cut
their way through deep forests, around
the base of a range of hills, across a nAf-
row plain, and through endless varieties
of country. They had left their mark
behind them, SO that big. wide, rough
turnpike seemed to run snake-like across
country.
The riders reached the junction" long
before any of the laborers were up. 1t
was scarcely three in the morning, and,
as the moon had disappeared behind
some threatening clouds, every thing
was dark and gloomy. Echo was eau
toned to keep quiet, and the two horse
men proceeded as noislesSly as possible.
After some accommodating in the dark,
Mr.. White ascertained the whereabouts
of the paymaster's section. 1t was close
to the long train, which had just brought
o heavy load Of steel rails to the camp.