Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13

most Of them with such names as the Palace"
Vanderbilt Rooms" the Victor Hotel"
Entering one that from the outside, looked
fairly decent, I found that it was merely q
large bare room, without furniture, heated by
q stove in the center. Here . man could sleep
on the floor for lve cents.
Although it was not yet midnight, the space
was already so crowded that there was no
room fof another guest" The proprietor gen.
erOusly offered to make them lie closer together
so that could sleep beside them, but I declined
the kind offer and sought o more attractive
establishment. The next house that entered,
in addition to its floor accommodation, had
large room equipped with fairly decent cots.
and for q quarter was able to rent one for the
night.
7 EAVING Kansas City next day, rode west
ward on o fast freight train, anxious TO
cross the high Rockies before the billiards
should come. But q terrific storm came roar
ing down from the mountains. stopping all
transportation and definitely ending my plans
to proceed to California. ! found q job on o
cattle ranch and settled down to work
John Beaumont, my new employer, was one
of the most fascinating men I've ever known.
A member of an ariStocratic Kentucky Blue
grass" family, he had been educated at the
~
gree from Johns Hopkins University. During
the Spanish American War he served in Cuba
as a captain. Following the war he had given
up his profession as an engineer TO indulge
his passion for raising fine cattle-an Inherit
ance from his old Kentucky blood
When arrived at the ranch the condition
Of Beaumonts beasts was pitiful. The snow
in the corrals was spotted with blood from
their freezing feet; their ears froze; and the
he ~
unceasng bawling. The worried Beaumont
drank much whisky during those terrible nights.
Much of the hard-bitten soldier still re-
manned in him, and he was pitileSS In his deal
ings with men; though never unfair But he
was more tender hearted than a woman where
dumb animals were concerned; the sight Of .
freezing calf would touch him to the quick
One night some one stole buggy belonging
to Beaumont. Several weeks passed; then one
day, as he was riding along a road, he saw the
missing vehicle hidden behind a corral at
ranch house. Riding to the door Of the house,
he raped sharply with his qurt without dis
mounting. man whom Beaumont knew
slightly came to the door.
IT just stopped to tell you, sub, that want
my buggy back" remarked Beaumont.
What buggy?' queried the other, feigning
surprise. 81 don't know anything about your
buggy"
"All right. all right. just thought I'd stop
and tell you" said Beaumont, easily But
If that buggy amt back by O'Clock IN the
mawnin' I'm a-comin up heah to shoot you,
subj"
Then, without another word, he rode away.
The next morning the buggy was back in its
proper place!
worked for him until we'll into the corn
planting season. Then-partly because dis
liked farm work and partly because was get
ting restless once more-I asked for my money
and resumed my travels.
1 spent the Spring months roaming through
the desert and mountain country Of Utah,
Idaho and Nevada, working intermittently with
logging outfits and in mining camps. Event.
ually. however, found myself back in Denver,
Colo-once again without money. A Scout
from an employment agency offered me a job
in the Moffat Tunnel. At that time 1 had
never heard of this great project, but, as the job
included transportation into the mountains I
, accepted.