The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-07-19

exercising He's just full of life, and he
wants to 90, | know. Don't you. old
fellow ?"
Allie pattcd his pony on the neck as
he addressed the last question 10 him.
Bronco raised his neat, Shapcly head, and
shook it thrcateningly as he uttered a
whinnv that could be heard for half-a-
mile away.
"IIc 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 ut the enthusiasm of his boy.
"YcS. Bronco is very intelligent. |
sometimes think he knows more than
half of these men working on the road.
He is Il trucr friend to us. ut any rate"
4 SLIGHT scOwl diStigurcd the mans
face as he spoke. and he cast Il glance of
disapproval. mt some low-browed, half
breed laborcrs near him. There was Il
low, sncaking, 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 new, wild
section of the West. For three months
his party, consisting of about fifty labor
ers had been pushing their way gradually
through dense wilderness and rocky
section of country. They merely graded
the land. while IL 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 Il movable place. Once Il
h.a rn -. ,raf fnr en-
day. and each time it was in Il different
spot. As fast rs 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
advance 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 relative
in the East, and he could not bear to he
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-
/ dcnce. So, on the whole. Mr.. White
thought it Il good opportunity to give his
son some experience in roughing it,
Allie. like most boys of his nature.
soon learned to enjoy "roughinr it,"
| He had his pony, Bronco. fine specimen
! of Western stock: Il small Winchester
rifle, which he could use effectively; and
Echo. a dog to which he wa, greatly
/ attached. With these three companions
! the boy was never Mt Il loss for pleasure.
Game was abundant: everything was new
and interesting to him; 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 highwaymcn; but in return
ing to the camp with several thousand
dollars in his possession. Mr.. White
always felt that he was running Il little
risk of being attacked by some of the
! dc>crterS. He, therefore, always started
for the junction at night time, and
left for the camp again early the next
morning
The trail before them was plain
enough. The leveling party had cut
their way through deep forests, around
the base of range of hills. across 4
:
ties of country. They had left thcil
mark behind them, SO that big. wide
rough turnpike seemed to run snake-likt
across country.
The riders reached the 4" junction y
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, everything wa,
dark and gloomy. Echo was cautioned
to keep quiet, and the two horsemen pro
ceeded As noiselessly as possible.
After some accommodating in the dark
Mr.. White aScertained the whcrcabout,
of the paymastcr's section. 1t was clos,
to the Ion" train. which had Just brought
heavy load of steel rails to the camp
With some difficulty the man wa
awakened.
The two then entered the small tent
and explained ther visit. Mr. Whit,
knew the paymaster well. and after pre-
senting his draft for the amount of moncy
necessary to pay off the men. he said
Il would like to get it now. and star
back for the camp before daylight. y,
one has seen Us enter Your camp. and !
is not necessary that they should. Man,
of the men know the object of my visit
here and they might take it into thei
heads to relieve me of the money on tn,
way back.
YES, YES, you're quite right. reptile,
the paymastcr Quite right. Some o
the men are not very honest looking
! No. sir, not honest looking, and nigh