THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 151 



plains of the Dakotas, and the moon lookin<r upon the stilhiess 

 shone but weird shadows on the scene, and Johnson still wondering 

 where he would meet his fate. 



He shivered with a chill to find himself at the brink of Devil's 

 Lake, but it seemed to him that the devil lived in a warmer place 

 than this. The vast plains of Montana loomed up on a bright 

 September day with its Lidian Reservations full of game, till 

 Glascow was reached, a great comparison with its brother o'er the 

 ocean. Desperate looking Indians, cow-boys and half breeds were 

 hanging around the station, (which looked like a chicken coop) 

 gazing as if they would devour train and contents. IMany a train 

 robbery had been committed not so far from this wild and brazen 

 village on the plains, the robbers finding safe seclusion in the 

 foot-hills in which some of the caves defied human daring. A 

 year or so after the happening of this event a train robbery was 

 perpetrated a short distance from Chinook, not far from Glascow. 



At Havre known as the Junction, Johnson changes, bound for 

 Great Falls, his destination ; Kendall and James from Boston whom 

 he had met on the train wishing him the best of luck. Leisurely 

 walking over to the waiting train, and soon after being seated, he 

 was attracted by a lady opposite nervously twitching around in her 

 seat who finally broke his deep and thoughtful mood by addressing 

 him, "Could you please tell me when this train is due in Butte?" 

 "Couldn't exactly say," he replied, "for I am bound for Great Falls." 

 "What a horrible country this is anyhow; I have been staying 

 with my son in Chinook for the last few months, but now I am 

 bound for my own dear State. While in the little Rockies a few 

 days ago on a camping trip I became so lonesome that I at once 

 made up my mind to get back to Colorado. You won't stay here 

 very long for it will be monotonous to you." Very little encourage- 

 ment dicl Johnson get from this motherly, but criticising lady. 

 Every other word seemed to blast his brightest hopes and he 

 meditated "Are you safe or unsafe to try your fortune in this 

 wild but native land." At Fort Benton, there was no Fort in 

 sight, nothing but a deep ravine holding the river bed of the 

 Mighty Missouri. At last "Great Falls" where leaving the train 

 he was wished much success by the lady who had talked every 

 minute of the one hundred and twenty miles ride, and hoping to 

 see him in her own state saving it so sweetly as if her place of 

 residence was the state of Colorado. Trudging down the main 

 street Johnson walked into the place where he was to be employed. 

 Blake & Sons being the Pharmacists of the town, what high hopes 

 he held of getting a lucrative position. "How do you do, Mr. 

 Johnson, glad to see you. Just arrived from Wisconsin? Leave 

 your grip and go and get some lunch." He then sought a restau- 

 rant down the street and looked at the bill-of-fare. Vegetables— 



