Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-05-27
Miss Baker 5 Choice.
IOriginal.l

engaged by a man named Dobson to
go with him from Julesburg to Denver
with a couple Of wagons loaded with
groceries. Julesburg was at the time
the terminus of the Union Pacific rail-
road, and there was no railroad be-
tween Julesburg and Denver. Dobson
and l were to take the teams through
alone, he driving one, the other. Just
as we were starting young woman
came to Dobson and asked If he would
take her along. She was about twenty
three years old and comely. Dobson
granted her request willingly.
Women In those days in Colorado,
especially respectable women, were at
premium. One saw only the rougher
visages of men, and when the more
delicate features of a woman appeared
the contrast was far greater than in
the east, where the sexes are more
nearly divided. 1t was plain to me
from the first that Dobson was bent on
monopolizing the girl, who called her
self Betsy Baker, and it was equally
plain that Miss Baker did not object to
being monopolized. We were several
days making the journey, and as we
camped at night the two had plenty of
opportunity to enjoy each others COM
pany. During the day Miss Baker
would sit by Dobson as he drove, and
in the evening after we had fed our
selves and the stock they would sit by
%6r~ auo fr,l,& -,
and do a lot Of billing and cooling.
AS for me, couldn't quite make the
girl out. She didn't make it plain why
she was there-didn't say what she
was going to Denver for or what she
was going to do when she got there. l
didn't doubt that she was perfectly re-
spectacle, but could see that she was
concealing something. For this reason
felt perfectly satisfied that Dobson
should monopolize her. didn't wish to
get entangled with her myself.
The second night out, after Miss
| Baker was asleep in one of the wag-
ons, man rode into our camp. He
was a short, thick set fellow with
| stubble beard, not, very prepossessing,
| but looked as If he wouldn't be good
man for an enemy to tackle He and
Dobson talked together for awhile, the
man telling Dobson that he was taking
good deal Of risk in driving wagons
on the plains with but one man to
/ help him. 1 didn't quite make out
whether it was Indians or road agents
that were to be feared, though Indians
were not numerous on the plains as
late as. 1857. At any rate, Dobson en-
gagged the man to go on with us. Even
party OF three was not numerous In
case Of attack, but three were one
more than two.
The next morning Miss Baker was
rather late getting out of her sleeping
place In the wagon, and when she did
and came to where we were eating
breakfast / saw the stranger look at
her In an odd way.
You heref' he said.
Miss Baker didn't look especially
pleased to see him and made no reply
do you happen to know the ladyT
asked Dobson.
Il ought to know her, SEEM I'm en-
gagged to her"
4 SinRuIariy enough. he didn't nav an
other word tn her nor d,d sha snack &
him during our breakfast Of bacon and
corn bread, washed down with cup Of
coffee boiled over our campfire. When
breakfast was flnished and we were
ready to move on, tho stranger took
the lead, while Miss Baker gok up, a.
usual. on the seat with Dobson. Once
or twice sf,e ssrsngar t,,rrs6 sna rcds
back 10 saw aometh,no - nohsc,,
1 while the CIR, 10 clagro.S =. -. go y
ed to was sittina beaIAe nohso,, - a.
evidently fr,andiv m.rrar To- a..
! didn't aeem IN ohtecF - he .an, ,,,.,' -
4 and after a few worss ~ inc,,,rv Z.
Iinformation roda on ah2sa .s.,n
When We came ,xv,thin, a 800, ,ss,,Ss
OF Denver. he can,a 49, ana $500
him tell Dohson that he M. eo,rsr -
sheer OF 10 the west ,,,st heeo.s re on
ing onr deat,na4,on ana ~ nm tt-r,.r,s,