146 EARLY DAY STORIES. 



but our guns, we went up town, which was less than a quar- 

 ter of a mile away, to look around, make inquiries, and hunt 

 for a hot breakfast. There was one hotel in the town and 

 one restaurant. Going to the restaurant for breakfast, it 

 was found to be a large, well equipped place, and the break- 

 fast was already well under way. Having washed, I was 

 standing in front of the glass combing my hair when some- 

 one called out: 'TIello Leach, what are you doing here?" 

 Looking around I saw Ed Baker, formerly a grocer and 

 grain dealer at Columbus, Neb. I had not seen him since 

 the railroad had come to Antelope county, but in the seven- 

 ties had sold him many a load of wheat, and had bought of 

 him many times a supply of groceries. He was now one 

 of the leading business men of Glenrock, being secretary 

 of the Deer Creek Coal company. After breakfast Charley 

 soon run on to an old acquaintance of his by the name of 

 Abbott whom he had known at Albion, Neb., Mr. Abbott 

 having been at one time postmaster at that place. 



Glenrock was a little village of 400 or 500 people. It 

 had sprung into existence only a few years previously, and 

 was the result of the discovery of the Deer Creek coal mines. 

 The town was made up of a few business men and their 

 famiHes and the coal miners and their families, the miners 

 greatly outnumbering all the others. It was a rough look- 

 ing and a rough acting place, like all such western towns, 

 but like all such places the people of all classes were friendly, 

 sociable and kindly disposed. Nowhere else will the strang- 

 er, if he behaves himself properly, be received with more 

 hearty good will than on our western frontier, whether it be 

 in the new built town or among the settlers or cattle ranch- 

 ers on the prairies. 



Having told our plans to Messrs. Baker and Abbott, 

 they decided at once that they ought to be modified. There 

 was no use they said of buying a pony — Mr. Abbott would 

 loan one to us, and Mr. Baker would lend us a pack saddle. 



