The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-13
CHAPTER w.
George Mccioud.

McCloud was an exception to every
tradition that goes to make up noun
tain railroad man. He was from New
England, with a mild voice and hand
| that roughened very slowly. McCloud
| was a classmate of Morris Blood's at
the Boston "Tech,' and the acquaint-
ance begun there continued after the
two left school, with a scattering fire
Of letters between the mountains and
New England, as few and as far be-
| tween as mems letters usually scatter
after an ardent school acquaintance.
u There. were Just two boys in the Nc
| Cloud .family-John and George. One
had always been intended for the
church, the other for science. Some
how the boys got mixed in their era
dies, and John got into the church. For
| George, who ought to have been a
clergyman, nothing was left but long
engineering course for which, after he
got it, he appeared to have no use.
However, it seemed a little late to
shift the life alignments. John had
the pulpit and appeared disposed to
keep it, and George was left, like a
New England farm, to wonder what
had become of himself.
| It is, nevertheless, odd how matters
come about. John Nice Cloud, pros.
porous young clergyman, stopped on a
California trip. at Medicine Bend to
see brother Georges classmate and
something Of real western town. He
saw nothing sensational-it was there
but he did not see it-but he found
both hospitality and gentlemen, and
IL surprised, was too well-bred to ad
init 1t. His one-day stop ran on. to
several days. In leaving, John McC Cloud
in seventh heaven of enthusiasm
over the high country, asked Morris
Blood why he could not find some
thing for George out there; and Blood
not even knowing the boy wanted ia
come, wrote for him, and asked Bucks
to give him job. Possibly, being
over-solicitous, George was nervous
when he talked to Bucks; possibly
the impression left by his big, strong
bluff brother John made against the
boy: at all events, Bucks, after he
talked with George, shook his head
Il could make a first-class railroad
man out of the preacher, Norris, but
not out Of the brother. Yes. I've
talked with him. He can't do anything
but figure elevations, and, by heaven
we can't feed our own engineers here
now" So George found himself
stranded In the mountains. 4.
Morris Blood was cut up. over 1t, but
George McCloud took It quietly. '1'm
no worse OF here than was bach
there. Morris" Blood, at that, plucked
up courage to ask George to take q
job IN the Cold Springs mines, and
George jumped at 1t. It was impos
sible to get white man to live al
Cold Springs after he could save
money enough to get away. % George
was welcomed. as assistant superin
tendent at the Number Eight mine
with no salary to speak Of and all the
4 work.
One day. coming down "speeial'
i from Bear Dance. Gordon Smith, VIII
I bore the nickname Whispering Smith
! rode with President Bucks In 9ths
l privacy Of his car The day had beer
long, and the alkali lay light on the
desert. The business in hand hai
been canvassed, and, the troubles put
aside for chicken. coffee and cigars
when Smith, who did not smoke. toli
i the story of something he had seer
; 81 = u 10 > "