Bob Chester's Grit; Or, From Ranch to Riches

tory-books of similar attacks by Indians, but the thought that he was actually gazing at a man who had been through such an ordeal seemed too del

silence of many minutes, as he retold to himself the story

irf

of the stat

and west goes, but nearer the no

ny ranches near Fairfa

t's more than seven ye

ainly that it was beyond his understanding how a man could give up life o

looked at Bob searchi

better for my heal

ilent, the expression on his face, however, indicating that he was thinking ear

e are any Indians

them like white people, and now the Injuns that you would find are either lazy, or they have dete

r period of deliberation. "You don't know any one out th

ldn't help you any. But I think so long as you have no particular

about the customs of the cowboys and life on a ranch in general, and many were the valuable poi

rated, the morning passed quickly, and what had loomed before the boy as l

sired to get lunch, the stranger insisted upon Bob getting out and eating with him. And Bob found that the m

ortunity to notice the region through which he was passing, new and unusual to him as was

before we reach Chic

with a sigh. "I only wish you we

ngers on the train you take are bound for Oklahoma, and they will pr

d he lapsed into silence from which he only roused himself after the train had pulled into the station at Chi

straight," and rushed from the car, leaving Bo

with a sense of loss that he saw him leave the car, for the boy had hoped that he would accompany him to the railway offices wh

engers from the car out upon the wide platform. His feeling of isolation was made even more poignant by the hearty greetings which

e he stood for a moment, searching the windows of the buildings across the str

picking his way carefully through the throng of carriages, automobiles and trucks, which were passing u

ld several handsomely polished des

various men in the office, he selected one who seemed kind and pleasant, and was making his way toward him, when he was conf

u think you are going?

t know

en scanning Bob and his threadbare clothes contemptuous

w who you want to see,

pass for Fairfax, Okl

Only the general managers and the o

told me to come h

g, for the official whose desk was nearest the railing in front of which Bob stood had been attracted by

u say about

idn't say Fairfax," added Bob truthfully, "he just said I was to get it to any pl

is you

Che

ctions for issuing you a pass, and until

walked back to his desk, while t

and putting his hand in his pocket, he drew out the

ave me instruction

if, after all, the card would be of no service to him when suddenly the door opened and in walked the porte

he clerks happened to be passi

fferson, what do

my pay. Ah done

repeated the oth

and by the 'ol

hy

kins thought I ought to when he set hisself down in my pa

cials had already received instructions by wire to pay off the darky in full upon his arrival, when they learned that th

e said Mr. Perkins had told him to call for," re

better give it to him, if you-al

or again calling attention

was to present this, wh

pasteboard, the man who had refused him

bliged to be very careful." And, calling to one of his clerks, he gave him instructions for making out t

e official, "because it will tak

eing discharged on his account, and after a few moments' deliberation, he called

ischarging this man? I don't like to think he should have got into trouble on my account. Yo

for a fellow in a boy so young,

ould think about it, if you asked him. He

e me a piece of paper

al was provided, Bob, in hi

ry you discharged the porter. I wish you would take him b

tween Bob and the official of the railway, and when the note had b

h Perkins mahself, and now if you-all would like to see Chicago a little