His heart swelled. Not for many a week had
he heard anything favorable to the great U. P. project, and here was
news of rails laid, trains run. Already this spring the graders were
breaking ground far ahead of the rail-layers. Report and rumor at
the fort had it that lively times had attended the construction. But
the one absorbing topic was the Sioux Indians, who were expected to
swarm out of the hills that summer and give the troops hot work.
In due time Neale and Larry arrived at North Platte, which was
little more than a camp. The construction gangs were not expected to
reach there until late in the fall. Baxter was at North Platte, with
a lame surveyor, and no other helpers; consequently he hailed Neale
and Larry with open arms. A summer's work on the hot monotonous
plains stared Neale in the face, but he must resign himself to the
inevitable. He worked, as always, with that ability and energy which
had made him invaluable to his superiors. Here, however, the labor
was a dull, hot grind, without any thrills. Neale filled the long
days with duty and seldom let his mind-wander. In leisure hours,
however, he dreamed of Allie and the future. He found no trouble in
passing time that way. Also he watched eagerly for arrivals from the
west, whom he questioned about Indians in the Wyoming hills; and
from troops or travelers coming from the east he heard all the news
of the advancing railroad construction.
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